While in Auto mode you can always shift yourself by flipping a paddle, regardless of the ANIMA. YOu can see this as the gear is shown in the display abnd A goes away. It comes back about 30 second later if you don't flip a paddle again. I use this for overtaking on the highway in Strada (when using the cruise control ... but yours haven't), just flip down a few gears take over and change back the lane. It then goes back to Auto and switches up to the high gear for cruising.

Stop worrying and drive that thing. You can only learn when you sit in the car and understand what we mean when we say this or that. I know people who are happy driving in Strada and Auto mode. Even I am when cruising on the highway. Driving around in Sport is best for me but not in Auto mode. The rpms are just too high when driving in the city or where speeds are more limited. I then go to M and choose the sound myself So it's not the same for eveyone and you have to find the best for yourself. I wish I could program the ANIMA so switching to Sport will automatically set to manual. Or it should remember in what mode it was when switching off the ignition.