was this my imagination ?

Interesting post, I work at a GM dealership and couldn't understand the motor shutting of at a stop, I can't see getting that much better mileage as GM claims. It seemed to me that constant cranking would wear out the starter early.
Turns out the motor stops right at the point TDC , the spark plug ready to fire, when you lift your foot off the brake, the plug fires, starting the motor.