We can argue hypotheticals all day. I got 140 K, heavy on the short trips, on my 81 Pontiac, and 180K on my 92 with starting with the clutch pedal down because of the interlock. No clutch, engine, or transmission problems at all. Where is the incentive to bypass the SAFETY switch, and then have to put the clutch in, pull it into neutral, move my hand to the key to start, and then put the clutch in, and move my hand to the gear shift and shift into gear, and finally let the clutch out?
Quite often I have left the car in low. Push the clutch in, start the car, let the clutch out, and drive away. Easier on me, and hasn't created any extra maintenance. Unless I backed into place and remembered, often as not, I leave the car in low although the manual specifies the Getrag crap is to be left in reverse. With the PITA reverse lockout, I figure I am better off being sure it is in low than chancing forth instead of reverse. If I am on my downhill driveway, I shift into second after the car is moving.
My 1964 TR-4 did specify starting in neutral with the clutch engaged. In those days with 90 weight, on cold mornings sometimes I put the clutch in. If you didn't give it some gas when you let the clutch out in neutral, it might stall.