I know the BMW shifters you're talking about, but there is one significant difference: the mechanism for entering Park is not like the rest of the gear selection options (Drive, Neutral, Reverse). It's a button on the top of the shifter. As such, when you want to put the car in park, you push a button, you don't move the shifter.

I'm not saying this is a great shifter design overall, but it DOES mean that you quickly learn a completely different routine for putting the car in park. Basically: "If I want the car to be moving, then move the shifter. If I want the car to stop moving, push the button."