here's how I worked out the issue of AE vs fully manual in my selections. I've just moved into film M's, coming proximally from the M8 which I LOVE, and prior from Nikon DSLR's. I grew up entirely in the digital, and AE world. I'm very used to thinking "manual exposure" with aperture AE and compensating. That's how I shoot the M8 90% of the time.
My introduction to film M's was shooting a friend's M5. Man...that's a manual exposure camera par excellence. Spot meter so no question what the camera is looking at, incredible analogue meter, huge shutter speed dial that allows accurate in-between the dents speeds which are shown in the finder. Wow. I haven't held an MP, but the analogue meter in itself of the M5 called to me saying "I am your totally manual camera." I found a banged up sample, fully tested for full function and shutter accuracy, and it's on the way for $575 !
But I won't use this as my primary film camera. It will be more for careful shooting, and to get the pleasure of the instrument. However I know that most of my use of a film camera will be like my digital shooting, faster paced, event/wedding work, street work, etc. I decided to get an M6 TTL, and it arrived last week. As soon as it came I realized I made a mistake. Nothing wrong at all with the camera. But in my real world context, in a bag with my M8, I saw that I wanted a film M that was as seamless a transition from my M8 as possible. I definitely will shoot them together. So, clearly, that's an M7 for me. Same meter, AE, same shutter dial direction. I'm exchanging the 6 for the 7 tomorrow. (0.85). So for me the MP vs M7 question was answered M7 + inexpensive M5. That's my version of the story! best...Peter