My girl has a '97 L, and I have an '02 TS. I've driven both, and I find the gated shifter easier to "sport shift" tahn the straight shifter. Maybe it's jsut me, but I feel like it's easier to fly though the gears.
Admitedly, it was awkward to get used to. I would constantly miss 3rd at the right time and blow into N when I shouldn't. It took a little getting used to but I honestly think it's faster than the button shifter. easier to recover from a mis-shift too. Now that I have the feel for it, I'd never trade it for the straight shifter.
-IggDawg