Bill, I'm with DusterDude72 on this one. It sounds like you made up your mind already. You just need to take the leap. The shifter and bench seat will be a compromise you won't be happy with. That's a short shift arm on the quarter stick. You'd be better off putting in buckets and mounting the shifter where it feels comfortable for you. You definitely didn't build a sleeper so it's time to "muscle up" the interior. The bench would work better with a 4 speed shifter anyway.
As for as the wife and bench seat dilemma, put the bench seat in the living room and watch car cruise videos through the winter.