Really? How much is it to replace? I had it sprayed in black last time and am regretting my decision up till this date because the color is no longer even.
Well... You are prevented from shifting from D to R and above without pressing the gear knob, so that's some form of protection I suppose. But that is if you actually move the gear level from the range of N to 3 without holding the gear knob down.

Tested on czin's b-line elegance, if the rpm is more than 1.5k OR speed is more than 3-5kmh.. it wont simply let the knob go from D to R ...
OR from R to D.. Even if u press the knob button, it wont simply let u... but i havent forced it hard la.. my czin will kill me.

I happened to test this out coz of my niece had kicked the knob upward when driving at 100kmh.. then the gear was on N not goin to R at all.. so the rpm immediately went to 6k n Vrrrrooooooooommmmm came out all sudden on the highway..

its jst like manual transmission where u hav to press the clutch first to get the knob shifting.. i tried on mine, goin at 10kmh speed, tried to shift the gear from 2nd to Reverse gear. i even pressed the clutch n it never let the knob go.. it will make sound like soft knocking sound. but of course dont force it.

AT will auto detect when it can shift to each gear. during driving, u can only move from D4 to N, D4 to D3, D3 to L (hav to press the knob button).

so no worries..all latest cars now should have this protection..