I've tried ESC on "Sport" before... you can definitely start to figure out what ESC does for you.
Given that VDM works by using ESC, DCC and the VAQ... that beautiful body control and flat handling does start to go away when you turn ESC down or off...
But I'm sure the purists want it off, so their Senna/God like motorsport skillz can shine on the way to the chip shop at road legal speeds
The main reason I added it to the short cut was a) to prove the nobs on youtube were making a fuss about how difficult it was to press the button b) for that moment when I test out launch control (you have to do it once right?)
Stop start, pretty much the same. I don't bother turning it off.... although I think with the Chicken Nugget in S mode, its disabled anyway.