Are you stating that the car can engage the starter when not in Park or Neutral?
THere is a CAN BUS from the SLA to the TCM to the ECU, I'd assumed the shift position was passed on to the ECU as i, I know very well, will prevent starter engagement thru the pulse module for various reasons, the shift being in gear being one of them.

You are going to have a hell of a time telling me that the system does not verify shift position when engaging the starter.