Under-appreciated point you make: not about speed.
I own a 2014 Boxster S. 315 hp, 266 lb/ft torque, 6-speed. It is NOT the fastest car out there. In fact I own an automatic 3-series BMW that's faster in a straight line every time.
But the Boxster is under 3k pounds curb weight. It is laser-precise on the road. And it sounds glorious, especially with sport exhaust.
I'm often driving between 20-35 mph in second gear because it's the best day-to-day way to hear the engine's sounds.
Otherwise, there are people out there buying 911s/etc. because they can rather than because they care, and those people don't care that Porsche is moving sports cars to hybrid, or less interested in putting manuals in their cars.
But lots of us still want the pure sports experience.
Enthusiast bliss is a revved out manual in a flyweight car on a curvy road. Likely in low gear and at lower speed: in the range that you cited.
While I admit its severely wanting and the car will suffer for the abuse on the turns, I can get the edge of that feeling in an old Corolla simply due to the weight and connectedness. While the much faster and newer luxury cars are numb (yet have their place for commuting and highway driving).
It's why older (inherently bare bones) Lotus's are still $50k, ancient Honda S2000's are $20k, and new Miata's approach new base trim SUV prices.
It's why you love your Porsche. And it's why a new Porsche GTS4 Rs (double clutch aside) sells for $100k over sticker new or used, is $100k over the cheapest comparable McLaren in the used market, and why it's very difficult to get one new. Just for example.
I own a 2014 Boxster S. 315 hp, 266 lb/ft torque, 6-speed. It is NOT the fastest car out there. In fact I own an automatic 3-series BMW that's faster in a straight line every time.
But the Boxster is under 3k pounds curb weight. It is laser-precise on the road. And it sounds glorious, especially with sport exhaust.
I'm often driving between 20-35 mph in second gear because it's the best day-to-day way to hear the engine's sounds.
Otherwise, there are people out there buying 911s/etc. because they can rather than because they care, and those people don't care that Porsche is moving sports cars to hybrid, or less interested in putting manuals in their cars.
But lots of us still want the pure sports experience.