Whenever I start any bike, I always pull in the clutch AND the front brake. Ever started a bike in 1st gear without the front brake and it's lurched forward? Could be very embarrassing, so I've always held in both as a precautionary measure. As far as the kickstand shut-off goes, I personally really like it - means I never walk away without putting the stand down . . . and I've seen this happen to others on a number of occasions, and usually in front of a ton of people - LMAO! Also, parking your bike in gear makes the most sense too