NAH. csmopar has it right.

I blew up a clutch disk shifting down to slow a grain truck into a corner. Nothing recognizable left but the hub.

Brakes are there to slow the car. On long downhills, though, the lower gear can help conserve the brakes so you don't smok'em. Something like a mile or more.

Brakes are cheaper and easier to replace than clutch disks.

R.