damaging transmission or engine using steptronics

In theory not, because it won't change down until the rev's would not exceed the red line. Older boxes and overdrives did not have this protection and you could overspeed the engine.

I did manage to blow up a 4 speed box in a 735 in 1991 by shifting from drive to reverse at ~3,000rpm. I was however being distracted by the maniac with a machete who was trying to hack his way through the windscreen at the time...

No. It is 'protected' from selecting a gear at a speed outside the 'safe' range of the engine or transmission.

Sounds like an experience to be told. Do tell. :-)

Sounds like someone's husband came home at just the wrong time. LoL.

He was a would be burglar. He tried claiming pre-emptive self defence on the reverse of those grounds, but his guesses at names were all wrong. It took the police six months to find him, but then he got done.