I was always taught "Gears to go, brakes to slow"
Much cheaper to replace pads and discs than transmission/engine components.
Also if you are driving a hybrid by using engine braking you are missing out on recovering energy by regenerative braking. Unless one presses realy hard on the brake pedal you will be using the regen system, not the friction surfaces of the pads and discs. In most hybrid models this regen brake effect is on the rear wheels, so the same as using engine braking and car stability is monitored and corrected by the VDM system.