That’s pretty typical with cars that have a manual transmission these days.
Many, if not most, cars have electronic parking brakes now, not like the old days where there was a lever just to the right of the driver’s seat.
You might want to go on The Amazing Race! 
Manual transmissions are pretty rare today in new cars, even in the high end sports cars that driving enthusiasts like my husband want. The ones he has with a manual transmission usually have paddle shifters.
All my cars (manual and auto) have the handbrake lever to the right of the driver’s seat. Good ol’ fashioned cable linked parking brakes.
Everyone in my family knows how to drive a manual transmission, my brothers and sister, my husband, even my mom, the old grandma. Naturally, my kids had to learn how to drive a manual transmission car as well. Luckily, my DH has one of those rare 6-speed manual stick shift sports sedan to teach them with. He has the nerve of steel and patience of a saint, so both my son and daughter are the unicorns in high school when it comes to knowing how to drive a stick shift and fix the car.
Manual transmission cars was very hard to come by in the US these days, but still quite popular in other countries. We had to special order our car to get a manual transmission, probably paid more and waited for availability. It wasn’t so when I was a teenager. My siblings and I couldn’t afford to buy our own car that had automatic transmission, so we all cheap out chipped in to get a manual transmission car. We felt in love with its handling and control, so everyone owns a sports sedan with stick shift to this day.
One time, my DH and I rented a car at a remote island, all they had were manual transmission cars with driver sitting on the right side. For that week, my DH and I had to do some tandem driving, he drove, I shift. It was tons of fun.
@y2kchicks, that’s been our experience renting abroad. Years ago, it wasn’t as hard to get an automatic, I remember one being specially brought in for us in a fairly remote Scottish location. That just isn’t the case any more - you get your choice of what’s available, no matter what you rented.
I want to be assured that when I rent a car in Europe, I can drive it. We always try to get an automatic, but that means renting from major airports and larger lots. Smaller towns and cities may not have the car we reserved available. DH had been the driver when the automatic isn’t there, but he is less willing to take on this on. Driving a manual would also open up some of the European car rental consolidator agencies also and save money.
We always had manuals until two years ago when DH replaced his truck. All three kids learned to drive that truck, which required a real shift, not a gentle nudge like many manuals. We wanted to make sure they would never be stuck if with someone who had a manual and couldn’t drive for some reason. My oldest met my sisters and their husbands in Germany and the rental was a manual. She was one of two who could drive it and the other appreciated an extra driver.
Some of us like manuals better. They usually get better gas milage and usually cost less. If you are renting in Europe there are more stick shifts available.
When renting a car in some other countries, cars with automatic transmissions may be less available and/or more expensive.
Also, there are some models of cars where the automatic transmission is less reliable than the manual transmission, so if you happen to like such a car, having the option to buy one with a manual transmission can reduce the expected amount of repair hassle later. Automatic transmissions are often extra cost options as well.
A manual transmission can also be a theft deterrent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/seattle-thieves-try-to-steal-car-from-70-year-old-woman-cant-drive-manual-transmission-9563062.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ9VVEkIbcE
I had a similar dilemma. My S wanted to learn to drive a stick and I searched high and low for drivers’ schools that would offer that option and none did. And I’m in a major metro area, not the sticks. He did wind up learning when we rented a car overseas; H took him to a rural area and they practiced. I agree it’s a dilemma. I should learn to drive a stick; I don’t know how.
“Why does anyone need to learn to drive a manual transmission anymore? It’s like saying, I need to know how to drive a horse and buggy.”
It’s helpful if you plan on going overseas, such as to Europe, and driving around there. I’m fortunate that my H knows how to do it, but it does leave us at a disadvantage overseas since I can’t take over any of the driving.
D had to learn on an old truck, the first week of her Americorps placement for a Land Trust. Not easy, on hills, with the new employer doing the teaching.
My first Dodge minivan was a stick. When I replaced it, and looked for another, a dealer told me, “Mom’s don’t like to have to shift when driving kids around”. Not this mom, baby twins in back. So the next van was automatic, and it was good for the younger two learning to drive. S started to learn on the old stick, so has some basic knowledge from his first driving experiences that serves him well. My current car is stick, and am working on teaching the other D, who is not enthused. She spends a lot of time in France, and really needs to learn! She rented automatic in France, but there was a surcharge.
Driving in this week’s heavy snow, I was glad for my stick.
To the OP, my ability came back when renting a car in Martinque after 10 years of not driving stick. Though I almost burned out the clutch the first night attempting to park on a hill. I’d be better off now. So would advise some practice.
In addition to the many excellent reasons already cited for wanting to drive a manual transmission, mine also had the benefit that my teenagers couldn’t drive stick, so it was DH who got to loan his car out to them every weekend and evening.
My neighbor has a recent Mazda 5 minivan with a stick. We got the one with the auto. I wanted the stick but since it was my wife’s car, we got the auto.
I’m driving my 4th car. Each has been a manual. Why? It’s what I like. My brother drives a VW bus (well, really, he has 6 or 7 of them). He likes them.
There are places that rent VW buses and bugs.
My daughters learned to drive a little on my car, but mostly at driver’s ed. She then started driving one of my brother’s buses, and it took her just a few days to get the hang of it, along with no power steering. No worries about her texting while driving, as just driving is challenging enough.
So why do you need to drive a manual shift car? Is there some reason for this? I see its for when you travel abroad. Really…it will come back just like riding a bicycle.
We have two manual transmission cars…a Subaru Outback wagon (has that great hill holder option), and a Honda Accord. My husband loves his manuals.
That being said…I drive an automatic Volvo…and I can’t imagine going back to a manual day to day…until I get my little sports car 
I took drivers ed in Texas, in the 60s, and the instruction was on a standard transmission car. Back then, you could take behind-the-wheel drivers ed at age 14 and get your license at age 15.
After that, I didn’t have another opportunity to drive a stick for something like six years, so I forgot how and had to learn all over again.
I think we found a niche market for some entrepreneur. Manuals rented at a premium price to cover all the potential clutch/transmission burn outs. Or, premium priced driving instruction for those wanting the stick experience.
Thanks to all for weighing in. I’ve received a couple private message and think I responded - but if I failed to understand how to reply, please excuse me and thank you for your suggestions.
stradmom, I agree. I have driven a manual transmission car for 30 years, and only one of my kids learned to drive it, after she went away to college, so it has always been just for me! I have never found it difficult to buy a manual car, I just go to my Subaru dealer and order one. I don’t use the hill holder feature.
As to why, I find them more fun to drive, and like the feeling of being more in control.
I’m sorry that I’m not up on the latest manual features, our car is a 2006, but I like it just fine, handbrake and all ;
In Germany a lot of people drive diesel engine cars, because diesel fuel is cheaper than gasoline there. They are very forgiving with their clutch so VW Golf diesel were the vehicle choice of driving schools.
Learned to drive on a stick shift in Yonkers, just behind San Francisco on the hill ranking. Husband has a stick Mitsubishi Eclipse that our kids learned on. Love to drive in Ireland as I am left handed and love the shift on that side!
@NoVADad99, when I drive my friend’s big SUV in San Francisco and it’s an automatic, there are some hills with stop signs in the middle of the hill that makes my palms sweat!
I wish I had a stick shift to drive. Don’t get me wrong , I love my car , but I would love to have a car just for fun to drive…I wish my daughter still had her old VW Cabriolet to play with