You aren't holding the the car with the clutch the whole time the light is red. Just for the seconds that it takes to transition from stoped to moving. Seconds at most.
Yes, it does result in unnecessary wear on the clutch. That's why you should be in neutral with your foot off the clutch. Our argument seems be over whether to use the parking brake or the service brake. The last two manual transmission cars I owned had Left Foot Parking brakes with a hand release. Not really easy for use at a stop light. One of my old cars, I think it was an 80 Citation, had the brake release near the hood release. I realise that this may be a difference between the US and UK. My point is that the "parking brake" should only be used for holding the vehicle when parked.
It can get even crazier with some of the buses I drive. They have wheel chair lifts and are equiped with an "ADA Interlock". Which means that you cannot shift (automatic) into drive unless you have released the parking brake.They also go into "charge protect" mode when the parking brake is applied and it is in park. This reves the engine to keep up with the electrical draw (from the wheel chair lift).
Doug
