Three months later, and got redirected to this thread from
this one (Which is the right Sequence Clutch-Brake Or Brake-Clutch).
I'd like to add a point... If you changed in to neutral and coasted, even on a clear road, whilst taking a British driving test, you'd fail. Similarly you'd fail for depressing the clutch too soon before a stop.
Actually, the British test
is a pretty fair assessment of one's ability to control a car and perform all the basic manoeuvre's required of every-day driving. For a start (no pun intended) it includes an emergency stop. Many candidates fail it one or more times (second time pass, myself <Blush>)
As a previous poster put it in this thread, it is not about brakes, or engine wear, it is about control and stability.