If I were sitting in a car, I would would know that 4-D is basically shifting between fourth and overdrive. And if someone accidentally did shift from overdrive down to fourth, it won't kill the car in most circumstances. It's better than the old O/D button that asks your thumb to press it.
Ultimately, my proposal that this shift pattern groups gears by use-cases still holds true. D-4, 4-3, 2-L. If a person can't understand that, it's perfectly fine to leave it in D.
I don't agree with your analysis. Toyota's shifter is unsafe.
Lastly, with any automatic-transmission car made in the past 20 years, they won't let you shift into reverse from drive.
See:
https://www.quora.com/What-will-happen-if-a-person-suddenly-...
Shift Transmission into Reverse While Driving (https://youtu.be/GR13mElbqxM)
Anyways, you don't have to agree with my analysis. AFAIK, Toyota hasn't had a recall for this shift pattern.