Maybe I'm missing the point in this discussion but even the standard 727 has LBA in manual low (L) as far as I understand.
Presumably a manual valve body has it too?
From my point of view it should be perfectly safe to start in manual low (L) and shift up when needed???
On the LBA .. he would have to figure out who made
it and see if it it LBA... my old TA valve body is
a RMVB with a trans brake... it is not a LBA.. the
stock valve body is a LBA.. but you never know for
fact on a aftermarket RMVB... he can test it... put
it in low gear.. run up to 20 or so MPH and decell the
engine... if its a LBA it will slow the car with the
engine... if not LBA the car will just coast
