Never driven an auto. Learnt on a manual. Learning the basics of "setting off" is easy, you get that down in the first 2 or 3 hour long lessons. Learning to be smooth and jolt free in every gear change, especially once you finish "learner style" and start to mash the pedal a bit more takes quite a while longer.
To those whining about slipping the clutch, grow up, seriously. There are so many things that simple REQUIRE you to slip the clutch to achieve that it's just stupid to say you should avoid clutch slipping. All you have to bear in mind is that slipping wears the clutch, big deal, it's a wear item just like brakes and tyres, deal with it. Obviously there are really bad things for it, putting high torque through a slipping clutch is bad for it as is sitting on the clutch on a hill for long periods, as is towing things heavier than you are meant to. Normally everyday use; the odd hill start, the odd hill hold, slipping along at 2mph in traffic, maneuvering on hills into parking spaces etc. All fine, it's part of a clutch's MO and normal life.
On my daily commute there are many junctions on hills, I would estimate that only 30% percent ever use the handbrake another 30% sit on the foot brake and then roll back 6 inches as they set off, the rest hill hold. Personally, if I'm going to be sitting for a while, like longer than 10 seconds I use the handbrake. There are also many tail backs of traffic moving at an average 2mph, yes you can sit and build up a gap and then drive in first, but sometimes this isn't practical as you'll just let lots of people in in front of you and you'll get beeped at. So like most people I try and "mill along" clutch up in first, but if I need to creep slipping the clutch I will.
EDIT: and yes, open the phone book here and you will find hundreds of local companies selling "Tyre, Brakes, Batteries and Clutches". Clutches are not always that expensive. I believe the friction disk for the GT86 is around about £200 ($350) in the UK + about £40-80 fitting cost (assuming it can be changed without dropping the engine). I would imagine that changing a clutch in a car is a fairly specialised job in the states due to such low demand for it, so it is probably more expensive.
EDIT2:
http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Model_108/Category_3/
Fensport - Standard clutch drive plate = £90 But you'll need the clutch cover (contains release springs) which is another £80.