i don't think it's an achievement. i just prefer driving manual. it's more fun! when i bought my new car last year, i had 2 choices of color b/c there were only 2 manual civics on the lot. luckily they had red.
i will say some of us might think it's an achievement b/c we're taught on auto in school. it's up to our parents to teach us manual, i guess, and most of them only know how to drive auto.
i've actually taught several of my friends how to drive stick over the years.