Without discussing the later breed of automatically controlled clutchless manuals (which are superb), no auto with the PRND etc shift will start in anything apart from P or N. Many now require the brake pedal to be depressed to move the lever from P.
My Primera was automatic and frankly it was a dream to drive. It was of the traditional torque converter type (Lutonmatt will know what I'm on about) but there was full electronic ECU control over shift points, a snow mode, a sport mode (which also engaged if you pushed the accelerator pedal quickly, quite separate from kickdown), torque converter lockup in 3rd and 4th.
Also, a very sensible bit of programmed behaviour whereby if you crested a hill and lifted off the gas it spotted this and remained in the gear it was in rather than changing up, thus maintaining some engine braking without any need to touch the control lever.
The torque converter does sap a little bit of power, but, not nearly as much as it would have done in the old days when dozens of litres of ATF was being pumped around needlessly.
I think you'll return none the worse for your ordeal. You might even get a taste for the two pedal world - watch out