I think you're going to be well pleased with the EGC system.
I have driven full automatics for many, many years. I had a similar system in a Civic a few years back and then switched to the very woolly CVT transmission on the Qashqai.
The EGC system on the 2008 is by far one of the best. Smooth when you want to take it easy and sporty when you want it, plus you have the manual side when you fancy it.
I really like the fact that you can leave it in Auto and use the steering wheel paddles to over-ride it and it reverts to full auto mode if you don't use the paddles.
Brilliant and far slicker than the Civic system.
Have fun.
Al.