Hey this IS a Mercedes product not a Lotus or Porsche.
These cars are the creation of engineers who build refined luxury cars. Rude noise, vibration coarse sensations and wheel kick-back are to be avoided if possible.

That's why M-B stuck with Recirculating Ball systems for so long.

It's also why the shifter is like it is on the six-speed. It was designed to isolate the driver from rude mechanical sensations from the drivetrain. The downside is a sort of disconnected "rubbery" sensation when shifted quickly.

The engineers designed the car to meet specific goals and provide a certain level of confident, relaxed driving experience appropriate for a Mercedes product. Feeling every crack and tar strip or having a shift **** buzzing like a vibrator in your hand was what they were probably striving to avoid !

Slim