How bad are automatic transmissions?

[omgwtfbyobbq]

I was pokin around the TN forums and came across a couple dyno runs with the same car before and after a manual transmission swap. What's remarkable is the increase in low end torque at the wheels, at 2k rpm the m/t results in 100 more ft/lbs at the wheels compared to the automatic, and peak torque is about 30ft/lbs greater. I've heard automatic transmissions are bad, but a 25% difference in peak torque along with nearly twice as much low end torque seems nuts! I've heard of a 15-20% loss in economy, but it seems like a manual transmission vehicle may have an even larger advantage, maybe 20-40% depending on how bad the auto is and good the manual is. SVOboy's gaslogs seem to show an ~30% increase fuel efficiency, before/after the swap.