The reason you think it is smoother starting out in second gear is because the clutch is slipping more using 2ed from a dead stop. Nice way to fry your clutch! You should be starting in 1st gear and stay in 1st until you reach 3,500 to 4,000 rpm at which time you shift to 2ed gear. if you shift at lower rpms you'll carbon up the motor. If you're too lazy to drive a stick properly buy an automatic. I switched to an automatic tranny because my clutch pedal foot would get sore in rush hour traffic. Now with automatics having the sport shift mode you can choose shift points without having a clutch to mess with.

It is , if it can be done without excessively slipping the clutch. In a vehicle that is fairly low geared, there should be no problem.. Many sports cars have transmissions that have 6 speeds that are fairly close together. , so there is less difference between 1st and 2nd.

If this is a truck with a "granny gear" for 1st. Otherwise, no, it will cause undue wear on the clutch.

Yes. Just take it easy on it. The reason why your first gear may not be working is because it is low on fluid.

Not really! Too much clutch slippage shortens the life of the clutch disc and pressure plate.

Sure, I do so more than 50% of the time. Just don't do it when on an incline.

Not if you want your clutch to survive.

in what?? a car no!!