Reverse manual valve body questions

My newly acquired Duster has it. I get the manual part, shifts when you move the lever, that's good. The reverse part...
Why?

I like the option of kicking it in neutral after the lights to let it cool or if there is an engine issue but it's not possible with the 'reverse' feature.

So you have to run it out in high gear until make the turn on to the return road?