I mentiond the go to 2nd gear since I recall some older transmissions
had a 1st gear lockout "gate" that made it hard to pick first unless
you initially put it in 2nd. I suppose the problem of people throwing
the car into 1st at 60MPH was not as serious as they thought.

My clutch still screeches occasionally on starts. But not every time.
I suppose my left leg has "muscle memory" now in how to let it
out without the screech. I now have 58K miles on it (much of that
is highway).

I guess if it ever completly freezes you out of 1st you could always
start in 2nd.