I have only have auto Jeeps, and I have never had a manual do something I couldn't.
So you've never tried to push start your auto then have you? Haha
Op-
For serious rock crawling- an auto is the way to go. It will make your life easier for just about all technical stuff. Some guys like a manual for the added challenge. I prefer my manual
Because it's fun, I don't really think of it as a challenge anymore.
I also like a manual because I go out in the woods by myself quite a bit with hunting, shooting, and just messing around- and if my rig dies, I know I can bump it.
A good friend of mine built an fj40 with an auto, he lives on top of a big hill, one day it stalled, he lost brakes and couldn't downshift.. Ended up flipping it and it was totaled. He has since rebuilt almost the exact same, but this time it's a manual.
If you're a girl- definitely go auto, it seems like all the girls who have manuals on wal wish they got an auto. (Cough lee cough cough)