I read in the driver's manual about driving an automatic car like a manual without a clutch?

What do you guys think?

The gears are obviously:

D4
D3
2
1

Would I start off in 1 to get the most pickup or what?

HELP! Never driven a stick. But realy like the idea of driving an automatic like a manual. When I test drove a Prelude the sport shift was friggin' awesome!