Constantly switching between N and D effect to drive train?

At very low speeds brake wear is pretty much zero. The "crawl" is built in to simulate a "normal" automatic. If you press on the brake pedal the crawl system is shut down. No battery current is drawn. "N" is NOT a "better choice" EVER!
There is no regen possible, no battery charge possible, and you loose control of the engine on/off.

I say again, DON'T USE "N"! It's there for pushing the car, as in carwashes and dealer showrooms, and when used there still causes problems. Search for "my battery discharged going through the carwash!!!".

 

I must have a different Prius...

When moving forward below 15km/h (e.g.from a stop), there is ALWAYS crawl, as shows my MFD arrows, whether stepping on the brake pedal or not...until reaching a stop again...

There is no particular reason to not choose N in transient sections of driving.

 

I only use my N on one road, it's 4 miles down hill (nothing step). I start at the top at 55 and N all the way and hold between 50 and 60. In D I have noticed a 2mpg drop. I only do this when traffic allows and battery is bar is more then half, as soon as battery shows 1 line under half I put it back into D.

 

(he does not count the MPG hit to get the bars back up to normal)