Don't Tread On Me, welcome and many thanks for your most qualified input on this.
Two M3's one with 6MT and one with SMG?!
Wow, you sure do have an enviable dilemma every morning when you go to work.
Having thought about this issue some more, I think BMW most likely know what they're doing if they're going to offer the SMG IV standard as the only transmission of choice. It'll function extremely well for
both uncompromising performance and convenience, whether you want to drive at 10/10ths or 1/10ths, or even being stuck in horrible traffic.