NIC (Neutral Idle Control)
Not V-dubs that I am aware of but the:
Chevy Cruze,
Chevy Sonic,
Buick Encore,
BMW E9x,
BMW N54,
BMW E60,
BMW N52K,
more BMWs
Mitsubishi Mirage,
Mitsubishi Outlander,
Saturn Astra,
Saturn Aura,
(There are more but I feel I have defended my statement sufficiently.)
Above are all cars that in some variation or another had/have models with the automatic transmission featuring NIC ( Neutral Idle Control) which automatically disengages the torque converter when sitting at stoplights in Drive—helping to boost mileage in stop-and-go driving.
I take it a step further by looking ahead and anticipating and begin to slow long before the, stop bar / light / tail lights ahead of me thus allowing me to not actually come to a complete stop, coasting in neutral as to maintain inertia. Some thing a car can't foresee.(yet) However I do not do this in snow/icy conditions.
So long as I (or anyone) is aware of the surroundings I don't see the big problem being "one of those" nor do I see it any different, actually arguably better and or safer than using the clutch on a standard trans.
Example:
Driving a standard trans. Look at all the individual processes or movements you have to do to disengage the torque converter and or down shift. If you slowed down say from 60 to 20 you would be forced to;
Depress clutch, Move the shifter down, shifter over, shifter up. reengage the clutch all of which varies depending on the situation.......we know....
Even sitting at a stop in 1st. with the clutch in, requires you to be paying attention to the traffic approaching you from behind should you have to reengage the clutch at a moments notice
VS.
Driving an automatic;
Tap/slip gear selector up into neutral then down when you need acceleration.
Even sitting at a stop in (N), requires you to be paying attention to the traffic approaching you from behind should you have to tap/slip the trans into (D) at a moments notice. (I tap the break to cause the lights to flash breaking up the monotony of driving for the drivers stuck in a chronic trance.<motorcycle trick>
All that said I really enjoy driving a standard trans. more than an automatic for the connected feeling to the car.
Getting back to your "one of those"/ safety comment, as long as you are not paying attention neither trans. is safer than the other. Hell nor is driving.
I'm just trying to save fuel and wear on the trans. by differing the stopping forces to the break pads which were designed to be easily replaced.
I got 263,000 miles out of a Ford Focus in which I always slipped in to neutral and had Zero trans. problems.
Oh yea, even Caterpillar got into the NIC with a 777G Off-Highway Truck
Have a nice day,
Happy decelerating!