It depends.
I have had just 5 auto cars. Starting way back with a Morris Marina, so not very up to date.
The SsangYong 2015 was controllable at slow speeds, but had very harsh gear changes. Then the Volvo V70 was just about perfect. Followed by an MG ZS which was just as you are describing at low speeds, (it is the reason I got rid of it), but gear changes were fine. My present Mazda is like the Volvo, excellent.
Cars are not all the same.
I would prefer an old fashioned hand brake even though my current electronic one releases smoothly.
I once had a manual Citroen XM with a foot operated hand brake. It was released with a hand button. Once I got the hang of it, hill starts were easy enough.
John