last year for a manual transmission?

Yes the 6 takes a bit of time to return I find it to be no issue just shift slowly as it comes down. I have not looked but it may have a dash pot that holds it open for awhile suspect it has more to do with emissions then any thing else.

 

The pedal most definitely moves when the cruise control manipulates the throttle on an 06.
Inre OP, I smell a troll, but, since you asked, you can drive a pre A-TRAC Taco just like any other old skool manual tranny.
It herks and jerks and the low range is a real crawler.
You can replace throwout bearings and realize the engineering failure on the 6th gear ratio, too.
It's like having an old pickup, except the old ones had decent rear springs....didn't ride on the bumpstops.
If you're looking for a rugged work truck, keep looking.