I didn't see anything in the long coding in VAG-COM on the temperature warning, but I wasn't really looking for it, either. I will check next time I'm in there.
Regarding manual versus automatics, VW, I'm sure, like everyone else, sells many more automatic transmission cars than manuals. Just walk around a dealer lot and see how few cars are there with manual transmissions. I was at a local dealer recently and there were 6 TDIs on the lot, all DSG. This is typical. And 5 new Passats (gas and diesel) no manual.
Outside people in this community I know very few adults that can drive manual transmission cars. And I've had kids in my car that don't even know what the clutch pedal is. They're amused by that until distracted by the crank windows. That's a real oddity these days.