I don't really engine brake, I'll downshift if I need to be in that gear anyway and if it slows me down as well great. If I'm in gear and need to slow down I'll keep it in gear until the revs get to low.
I put a very small amount of pressure on the shifter before fully disengaging the clutch, as it comes to that point the shifter glides back and goes into the next gear.
This makes for quicker shifts as well as the clutch doens't have to go all the way down.
I've heard many times if you hold the clutch to long you only shorten the life of the throwout bearing, I try to keep it in gear and coast or set it in neutral for any extended amount of time or in heavy traffic. Most times in stop and go I can manage to keep it in second as long as I can keep rolling just a little.
Wow that was brave, you loaned a stick shift to a women driver.
I suppose my sister learned in time, but I'd bet she would put a LOT more wear on one than I would. I remember my brother inlaw saying he got his car back reaking of burnt clutch after she drove it in traffic. My brother's theory with taking off using a stick shift is to run the Rs upto near red then dump the clutch.
With all that said the only person I could even think about letting drive my all wheel drive manual car is my dad.