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Automatic transmissions depend upon fluid circulation and pressure for lubrication. "Neutral" may mean that some parts of the component will be moving (rotating) but not receiving lubrication when the engine is turned off. On any auto trans vehicle I have owned (cars going back to the 1960's) it was that the vehicle could be towed four-down for very short distances at very slow speeds. We always tried to avoid that.
Engine on, but trans in "N" may still mean fluid circulation (there is more than one way to build an auto trans).
It never kept me from choosing "N" in certain situations (pausing between going from "R" to "D" for example), and while I am not fond of "N" to be used on any transmission while moving down the road, it has some limited applicability. Is FE worth the lack of engine braking? Not in my book. Maybe the last bit before a full stop ahead where the possibility exists that the stoplight may change in my favor.
Either/Or decisions are harder to quantify when cutting corners (note the analogy). Perhaps not making it a habit is the best compromise.
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