I've ridden 2 wheels for the past 1/2 century, and I've always, always used downshifting for slowing me down prior to stopping (this of course when conditions permitted) and I'm not about to stop now. That's what transmissions are for....decelerating as well as accelerating. That's why 18 wheelers have jakebreaks. They use the engine to SLOW them down, as do I.