Paul, interesting. My '91 SE has this feature, and I searched around over the last 15 years or so for the options to make it a 1st gear start.
I found some hydraulic solutions, and an electrical solution involving manipulation of the fuel system duty cycle (or something like that).
But I never jumped in, as I read a few negative posts about damaging the tranny.
I'll do a little schematic searching on this approach; I recently did some minor valve body and modulator work, and now when I occasionally select the 1st gear start, the 1-2 shift is no longer harsh, but nice and quick and firm, just like the others. I'd love to have a switch on the dash - use 1st in the summer when the AC is on and bogs doiwn the little 3L engine too much.
I eagerly await more info.

DG