1) You do the same thing in automatics, automatics have gears that you can change just without the clutch. I lost traction in a brand new dealer loaner because the traction control would not let me accelerate when I was stuck in ice (I know how to drive in ice) Instead of just sitting there like an idiot, I downshifted, turned off the traction control and pulled out onto the street without causing an accident to people on the street I was turning into, or behind me on the hill watching as I slid backwards because of the nice traction control.
2) Same thing if you really want to....But I don't see the point. I did drive a car with OD for a bit (When I was a little younger) and it was nice to engage that and just watch the RPM's rip upwards and have some fun.
3) I had the brakes fail once on my car (That is auto) and I used the downshifting technique to slow myself down and gradual usage of the parking break to stop. I use engine breaking a lot just to practice in case something like that ever happens again.
4) That is up to debate, I rather enjoy being able to drive an auto like a manual and at the same time not have to worry about sliding backwards into someone because I am not paying attention at a stoplight. I have seen lots of people in manuals do this, and it just irks me that these people drive cars they don't know how to use.
In the end, you can do a lot of the same things in an automatic...I just prefer automatic because if I am out with friends and I want to get drunk and I was driving, I can ask someone else to DD and not worry about him not being able to drive my car and perhaps ruin the clutch... Also I can let others borrow my cars if they need to without worrying about the clutch or the car...
Lets face it, I do agree more people who drive manuals are better at driving, but that does not mean all of us automatic drivers are terrible at driving...