Driving a stick

[DreSEL]

Also it is said that holding it in while stopped can lead to early throwout bearing failure, but I'm not sure how accurate that is.

I use the dead pedal all the time. I've learned to read the stop lights so I'm usually ready to go before they change. Sometimes I get caught in neutral but I'm usually quick enough off the line that's it's not a bother.

I agree. Resting your foot on the pedal will make things heat up, wear the disc and probably glaze the flywheel. Leaving the pedal in at stop lights will cause the pressure plate to fail prematurely. I never rest my foot on the cluth or hold it down when stopped. The cluth in my sentra finally started slipping at 184K miles, so I guess that works.