To answer your question earlier Mike, when in Manual mode in any new "selectshift" transmission (including all new Taurii and Fusions with the 3.5L) it will not upshift until you tell it too. It will downshift automatically though. I also found out the rev limiter, at least on the Fusion Sport with the 3.5L, doesn't bounce off an rpm, it holds the redline instead. It's like hitting a wall of a constant fuel rate to hold the motor.
When I test drove the new SHO, the only purpose I found the paddles for were for engine braking, which I prefer over pedal brakes because it activates the fuel shut off program earlier and in theory will save you fuel in the long run, as well as saving your brakes. Of course, the one thing I worry about when engine braking is that your brake lights don't come on when doing it and someone behind you if distracted could rear end you if they didn't see the lights come one and would probably sue you for it.
As far as up shifting goes, it still feels like the shift comes ages after you told it too, but it will hold the gear, which could be nice on hills or sweepers. Although the selectshift also has a hill decent mode that it goes into, when you first enter manual mode and will stay there until you tell it to change gear. It's nothing spectacular really, it just locks out overdrive gears.
