Yes, the engineers sometimes do direct starts. I don’t know, but I’m assuming that during maintenance a direct start must be periodically demonstrated/tested as it’s the inflight restart method.
But it doesn’t change the fact that motoring starts are done by pilots for every ground start because it’s what the manufacturer/AOM recommends.
Not because of A model hangovers, not because of Austronauts, not because of any other reason you tried to explain. And the condition lever is moved to start before ignition for a motoring start BY DESIGN.
You know, you could have just said “I didn’t know that.” or “Oh, that’s why they do motoring starts.”
But good to see you’ve doubled down
Always a good trait as a pilot.