i used to live i a pretty mountainous area, and handbrake starts can be absolutely necessary… on a steep hill where you roll backwards a couple of metres before you can quickly move from the brake to the accelerator and clutch, its just dangerous to do it any other way (not to mention i imagine it’d fuck your clutch plate relatively quickly because it’s have to slip a LOT to arrest your significant backwards momentum)

… and honestly i’m so used to it i just do it on every even slight hill because it’s just… easy? makes you less “quick engage and accelerate” because you don’t have to worry about it: the car is always under control; you’re never rolling; take whatever time you need