Add another one to your list.

When I was in drivers' ed, I was actually told that if I notice that a car is going to rear-end me that I should let up on the brakes so as to reduce any chance of whiplash. Honestly, I don't think either one of those arguments is very compelling.

And I have to agree with Bruno that using the handbrake seems like a very amateur move: one you'd expect to see from someone just learning to drive. That said, I do use it on occasion. My driveway is fairly steep and fairly short, so there are instances when I pull in behind the wife's car that I have to get so close that I fear that the few inches of roll might actually be enough to run into it.