As someone who learned to drive a stick in a 1966 Corvette (I think that was a 4 speed) I'm just used to 4 speeds in normal city driving. I always used 5th for the Beltway, places where I could go over 45 mph. I had to wonder about a 6 speed but nonetheless I had to have one. I tend to skip gears. Probably not a good thing to do but I may wind 1st out and go into 3rd and so on, I'm lazy I guess. When the weather is bad, snow I don't even use first,always start out in second. I too notice the 3rd gear kick you are mentioning. I guess it just takes getting used to a new shifter. Its very different from the GT Cruiser's 5 speed.
Pat