In most modern autos the things you describe can be driven around to a good degree.
1 Using the paddles to change down. one flip will do one gear. Pull or push and hold will go directly to the lowest gear quickly as they can be 2-3 gears up for the WLTP program map.
2. The accelerator-change down is usually deliberate in the normal engine map for emissions/mpg. Usually the pedal has a button sensor which is triggered when you hit the pedal fully. This forces a message to the engine and gearbox for full power, and maybe a ditch if you are not ready.
3. The default maps are usually lazy and high gear hunting leading to a delay in response from light loads. It also learns your style apparently. So calm to rabid may take a moment to wake it. Just use the sport map all the time and use the throttle more lightly.
4. It takes quite a long time to learn to drive on the paddles so I usually flip the auto stick to the left into sport mode and then push pull this as it feels a lot more natural for me. It is more involving and also tells the car to go to sport mode which avoids the needless ultra high gears.
Sorry to hear about the bad result. Don’t let it put you off. Clearly the team were having a bad time, I would not like their forthcoming insurance renewal. I suspect all test drives will end up accompanied.
As a matter of interest (if you do want to share on a public forum) do you believe that you were giving it a little push when you got the stability light up on the dash or do you think it triggered quite early?
