In the mk7 Golf just leave the electric park brake and auto hold on all the time and you never have to touch them, the car always is held when stopped whether you are facing up hill, down hill or on the flat - engine running or not. All it requires for it to be released is engine on, door shut and seat belt on. And it is only that last requirement that might annoy some people when they want to do something like move the car in the driveway without putting the seatbelt on. And is that really much of a chore?

Our other car has a handbrake but I never seem to have any problem with remembering to release it after driving the Golf as I quickly became used to the change of being in a different driving environment where the indicators etc are in a different position.