Anyone that thinks the 6-speed won't devalue much vs. the 8-speed units are definitely incorrect. Trying to be a "ginea pig" on the transmission? We are all ginea pigs on the entire truck! Remember, this 6.2L direct injection engine, although similar to the old unit, is NOT the same as the previous generation 6.2L. The 8-speed unit shares some components with the current 6-speed and is built in the same Toledo, Ohio plant.
The 6.2L equipped trucks with the 8-speed transmissions are going to drive COMPLETELY different than the old setup. Shifts will be faster, more responsive, the 1st gear ratio is shorter, the final drive taller, two overdrive gears, etc., etc. 0-60 will be shaved and fuel mileage higher.
This is nearly the same transmission in the Corvette Z06 and Stingray, with different programming. Imagine what a Diablo sport tuner, plugged into a 2015.5 Yukon Denali would/could do for shift speeds (for those performance-minded individuals). I also have a feeling that in addition to the 8-speed transmission and 4G/LTE On-Star additions, there will be other minor updates that will arrive with the 4th quarter models.
I sold my 2015 Denali today and will take delivery of an October build 2015.5. The $700 hit was WELL worth it in driving experience and resale.