I do the exact same thing. I hate riding the brake down gentle declines, or even a steep ones at that. I feel like I have more control if I shift down to use engine braking, sometimes I will work my way down through the gears right to 2nd to get maximum engine braking on steeper declines. I do still use the footbrake, but only for shorter periods.
I currently have over 100k on the clock, have had it from new, and I'm still on the original discs, and am on my second set of pads all round but will probably need front pads at next service (110k)
I drive in S mode alot of the time, in town, on motorway, and of course open road (which is very hard to find :( )
I still enjoy driving the car everyday, even after 3 1/2 years, and she still looks good, well apart from the cracked windscreen I have at the moment
I know what you mean about the ECT PWR switch, i'm always switching it SNOW by mistake, as I forget which way is which even though I use it quite often :duh:
At the last service workshop said car (engine etc) was in really good condition :yahoo: