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Come to think of it, technically the preselect gearbox is still alive... in the automated manual transmissions. Like VW's dual clutch trans, that is basically like two separate manual transmissions in one unit, one has even gears, and one has odd gears. Each has its own clutch. While accelerating in 1st, for example, the second gearbox is 'preselected' in 2nd gear, and then the computer disengages one clutch, engages the other, and then the first gearbox gets preselected into 3rd. And so on. Naturally, the problem occurs when you do something that the computer can't anticipate. Like accelerating right to the shift point and then slowing down.
They're stupidly complicated for what's basically a glorified manual transmission. IMO, saving the tiny amount of torque converter losses isn't justified by using a manual transmission that's as complicated as an automatic, but without some of the benefits... like working properly.
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