Not that I've noticed here in Australia. Personally, my current car is an auto, and trying to engine break just isn't very effective without switching to manual

Not that I've noticed here in Australia. Personally, my current car is an auto, and trying to engine break just isn't very effective without switching to manual in my car. Engine breaking can also be noisier, as may have to shift down gears in a way that means the engine revs relatively high, for a brief time - making it a more noticible noise. Out in the country, and for me that often means the hills and mountains, then engine breaking is a much bigger part of my driving style, esp down hills! Engine breaking also doesn't cause your break lights to come on, and they provide a quicker signal that a car is slowing, than relying on people to detect the change in speed.