I think for all practical purposes the position of 3-9 or 2-10 depends on each person's level of comfort. I use the pull and push method. Now the most important ting is that your arms have enough flex space so that, in case you need to, the can cross over to maneuver a tail spin.
Breaking mechanically during the full course of the bend can be very dangerous, not only because of the overheating of the brakes, but also because if you don't have torque in the motor and you slow down, the centrifugal force will pull you out, leaving you in the ditch or, worse, down the embankment. The purpose of the down shift is to give the car the necessary "force" to fight the centrifugal force that pulls it out in a straight line. You must TAP you breaks just before the begging of the curve so that you get rid of so momentum and then let the force be with you......
My two cents.
Now I'm glad Ali hasn't seen James's driving technique, cause he being the slow one, I don't think that he would be a good role model.
As per price tags, I think I would gladly pay for clutch and brakes than for a brand new car and a hospital bill.