It's not like a manual flywheel where the clutch can engage and make contact, you torque converter does that w/ fluid instead.

But you still have to have something down there for the starter to grab onto and spin the engine to start off that entire combustion cycyle thing.

Do you want to call that a flywheel--sure why not, but don't go looking for and aftermarket model anytime soon.

Personally, I say we dump all flywheels to save weight and go back to hand cranks to start the car. That would trick, it could pop out just below the passenger fender, get it chrome, maybe even get some some flint on it and let is spark against the ground, that would be trick.