Truck Like Mercedes Manual Transmissions?

[Michael K]

Since my "M103 Best Motor Ever" threat got some interesting discussion, I try to keep it going tonight. Several of the comments in the "M103" thread mentioned that Mercedes in general and their manual transmissions specifically are "truck like." I have to say I agree with that especially about the manual transmissions. My question to the group is why did Mercedes do it this way?

The 717.431 mercedes manual transmission in my R107 300 SL is truck like. I'm not saying its a bad tranny or doesn't do its job, but it's not BMW or Honda slick. Its slower, heavier, more dampened, and with longer throws between gears. I have grown to love how it operates, but it was not at all intuitive to me when I got the car how to work it properly.

Is there some inherent benefit that I don't understand, or did Mercedes do it this way out of tradition?