Counterweighted shift knob?
 

nando2323's thread about trans problems reminded me of a trans question I've been thinking about.

Accepting that resting your hand on the shifter while driving is bad, what makes a counterweighted shift knob seem like a good idea? I understand that the idea is to help counter the decrease in leverage from a short-throw shifter and make it easier to shift. Wouldn't the extra weight on the top end of the shifter have the same effect as resting my hand there?

Actually that's the first I've heard of such a thing, but the weight from your arm is probably a lot heavier, plus you may be pushing or pulling with a little more force than just the leverage a weighted knob causes from gravity. Some people lean on it harder than others.
I use a fairly heavy metal Hurst T-handle, but I never thought about the weight making a difference.