****Sorry to say but I have the HO with a 6sp.****

I don't think that anyone has to be sorry for owning a Cummins, much less a HO with a 6sp :^)

I guess the 2002 HO splits the difference between the 2003 SO and HO;

2002 HO - 245 hp, 505 ftlbs torque
2003 SO - 245 hp, 460 ftlbs torque
2003 HO - 305 hp, 555 ftlbs torque,

or something similar ? A box of course changes everything.

 

I don't know about the newer ford transmissions but on my old 86 with a C6 trans first gear was way to high for takeing off when you were loaded heavy. The chevy usually has a lot lower first. As for the dodge and chevy comparison the auto probably made the two feel comparable with an auto you don't loose any boost between shifts and will actually pull better from a stop. Just my experiance I have ran both an auto and a manuel . Plus the chevy is doomed with inevitable injector failure.