Debate with my wife about the role of the park button/brake

In the prius it doesn't really mater as the power-off engages the parking. However not every car is like that. I was just driving my dads 2006 LS430 which has keyless start, but you still do need to turn the ignition switch(no push button). I found myself repeatedly leaving the car in drive when I turned it off prompting the car to warn me to switch it to park. In most cars, as long as a parking brake is part of your procedure, the consequences are minimal. Chances are the shut-down procedure is going to become perfunctory in whatever car you drive regularly anyway. So a different car will cause you to develop different habits. But brake pedal, put in park, parking brake, ignition off will work in every car, so I see your point.

 

This was always my method in previous regular cars that weren't stick shift, in those it would be the same but instead of shifting to P I'd shift to reverse once the vehicle's weight was held by the parking brake.

It seemed simple to me but trying to show it to my wife at the time was like trying to teach calculus to a toddler. Most non car people just want to stop, shift to park and be finished. I don't think most even use the parking brake at all, and they end up seized and needing repair as a result.

 

Repeat after me - the wife is ALWAYS right!!! Happy wife, happy life