Yes that's true, in the US people seem to view driving stick as some advanced technique, here in the UK even the crappiest drivers learn with a manual (this may start to wane as modern autoboxes get better).
I don't think it's very constructive to label something as "advanced" or "hard" because this can cloud people's judgement and make them scared of things that are in fact relatively straight forward.
I don't think it's very constructive to label something as "advanced" or "hard" because this can cloud people's judgement and make them scared of things that are in fact relatively straight forward.