In the last decade cars have progressively increased the gear from 6 all the way up to 10 speed in automatic transmission. Manuals in the same period however have retained more or less the same 6 speed with occasional 7 speed (C7 Vette, Bronco, etc). Why such a huge discrepencies?
Because the goal is engagement, not efficiency for manuals.
When you floor or baby a 10speed, it doesn’t work all 10 gears in sequence. It’s choosing the best available for the situation.