The standards are much more fun to buy, but as you noticed fairly rare.
Still, they are out there if you're determined enough.

Nissan said for the 04 Maxima they expected to sell around 90% with the
automatic. From what I've seen by looking at used ones, the models w/
manual trans and leather seats seem to hold their value very well.

I have been driving a 95 SE 5-spd since May 94, and still love it.  At
that time the manual was a full second quicker 0-60 and faster 1/4 mi.

The only situation I would consider an automatic is if I had to put up
with bumper to bumper daily commute.  Fortunately I live 3 miles from work
and do not have to drive into Chicago during rush hour very often.

My 2001 Pathfinder (purchased March 2004 w/99k miles) has an automatic,
but it is very hard to find one of those used with manual shift, and the
auto has higher towing capacity.

a BIT more fun? It's like night and day!:) Even if an auto has more
gears, like the 7 speed auto available in some Benzes, the
stick/standard is just so much more fun to drive. For example, the auto
never knows when you want to downshift. It drives me crazy when I push
the accelerator down in an auto just to get a wee bit more acceleration,
and the damn thing downshifts. How about holding a gear before shifting
up? You are at the mercy of the auto transmission Gods as to when the
car will upshift. Sure, they have auto-sticks and you can use gear 3, 2
or 1, but it just isn't the same thing.

In terms of automotive technology, stick used to be way faster than an
automatic, what with more gears AND less weight, but autos have caught
up a great deal. The difference in weight of the auto version of a car
compared to the manual is diminishing and the auto is getting more
gears. We'll soon be at a point where autos will actually be faster than
manuals, but they will never ever be as much fun. Look at even the most
advanced paddle shifting BMW M3 SMG, pretty much state of the art auto
box (actually a manual box shifted automatically.) Still, the 6 speed M3
with the clutch pedal that YOU actuate is more fun. Nuff said.

If you really really like to drive, stick is the way to go. Hold out for
one, it may take longer, but what's a couple of weeks to search for a
car that you will live with for a couple of years?

CD

I have a 2001 with a 5 speed. took me 3 months to find (wanted 5 speed,
leather sunroof and bose system) I got REALLY lucky, bought it in late 2003
with only 8,000 miles on it! only paid 16,500 for it as well. (guy had
rotated the tires once and changed the oil twice in the 8k he had it). it
you look hard enough ya can find one. I found mine on cars.com autobytel.com
is also a good site to search for cars. good luck

In 2000 I went all over the Chicago area trying to find a 96-99 Maxima
with a manual tranny.  I found one.  It wasn't in the best of shape and
was priced at $17,000 with something like 45k miles on it.  I ended up
buying a brand new GXE for $19,500 (the base model w/ 5-speed)