I agree with you - situational awareness is what keeps us safe, and not engaging with poor drivers but rather creating distance. for braking, I use engine brak

I agree with you - situational awareness is what keeps us safe, and not engaging with poor drivers but rather creating distance. for braking, I use engine braking at stop lights, and can easily slow down almost all of the way without any brakes applied. Motorcyclists should definitely be taught to drag the rear brake when engine braking to let others know. Most people are unaware of how quickly a bike can slow down, or rather, how so little mass reacts much differently to situations (ex. even going downhill, unless in 5th/6th gear, bikes generally don't pick up speed coasting but rather slow down).