Agree. Some people don't mind driving in Italy, and find it fun and exciting. I'm one of them. I also know that some people find it unpleasant and stressful. To each his/her own. I take the train when I can because I also find it fun and usually simpler. Good point that the cars are stick shift in Italy. You can get an automatic if you look for one and reserve, but you have to make sure they have one or you'll be out of luck. There's also usually a significantly higher price for an automatic. The only thing I'd point out is that you have to validate any train ticket that does not have an assigned seat, which is any local and some regional trains.

A local ticket is just a ticket. It doesn't have a date, time, or seat number on it. Theoretically, you could never throw it away, and use one ticket for as long as you are in Italy. That's the reason for validating it. That puts a date and time stamp on it. Then the conductor will know if you are trying to use that ticket more than once. The longer distance, more national trains have a ticket that has a date and an assigned seat on it. The conductor can see just by looking at it that you are trying to use the ticket at a time than for which it was purchased. Also, if you try to use it the following day you'd find someone sitting in your seat. So, validate any ticket that does not have an assigned seat. All others, just board.