The main reason FCA dropped the traditional shift arm is cost. I work at the plant that builds the steering columns for FCA and the cost of the bar shifter assembly is more than the cost of the rotary shifter.
Remember that bar shifter has to be connected to the shifter tube, It then moves a switch that is located on the lower part of the column. You still have a switch not a direct linkage to the trans mission.
The old school shifters where prone to bushing failures causing hard shift engagement. They actually cost more to repair than the rotary dial shifters.
Don
