Shawn and others interested. After doing alot of research on manual vs. electronically controlled, etc. I have found a product that MIGHT meet SOME of your needs.
4L80E controller
Click on the item marked:
IPT Electro-Matic Manual Controller
There is also a version that allows you to piggyback it on a stock system that switches from full automatic, to fully manual config (although slightly higher price).
This allows the transmission to remain stock (i.e. no need to replace valve body with a manual one) so that if a fully electronic system is used in the future, no mods need to be made. It allows the transmission to be shifted manually without the column shifter (less chance of over/under shifting) and allows manual lockup of the converter.
Again it might not be for everyone, but might help some people out. The price is reasonable (less than TCI controller) and is about the same if you have to buy the ECM, sensors, harness etc (unless you get a steal at the boneyard or scrap vehicle).
Hope this helps.