My post was not intended to be rude but to suggest that perhaps things are done for a reason. The shoving it into first thing happened probably because nobody ever explained to you how to use a manual gearbox? I started out driving a Fiat 600 and then a TR-4 so I know how to baby a gearbox - doesn't everyone?
The redline is different: like skiing out of bounds, touching the fence that says Don't Touch; Not stopping at a Stop sign. It seemed to me that some things are self-evident and designed to keep people alive/safe/riding-not-walking.
Your friend sounds like he should not be allowed near your car again or he will break it. Make him sit in the back.