Whats better Manual steering or Power?

One other thing that I don’t believe anyone has mentioned.
If you go with the manual, are you going to clean and repack it?
It’s not difficult.
Probably the seal are all that need replacement.
It is surprising what a good cleaning, adjusting and repacking with new grease will accomplish to a manual box. (I use Mobil 1)
I think many people expect something out of a manual box they wouldn’t out of a power system. And then wonder why it “feels” inadequate.
Forty years of service with no attention other than adding oil isn’t realistic.
That unit does do a lot of work.
The old grease will have deteriorated and dried up.
(Oil is for “servicing”, not overhauls. And if overhauled, it really shouldn’t need oil in your lifetime, that I have seen.)