Not likely to hurt the clutch plates, however the throwout mechanism can be damaged.
As for keeping a bike in gear at a stoplight, I was splitting lanes down to a red light on a down slope. Expecting to have to stop, I shifted into neutral and was just coasting, but still had the clutch lever pulled. About a half a car length from the front of the line, the light turned green, so I grabbed a handful and let the clutch out. the bike didn't go. Had it gone, I would've been TBoned by a guy running the red light in great haste!
I will go to neutral, thank you!
You can be sitting at the light with your clutch pulled and the cable could snap which could launch you out into the intersection.
As for missing a neutral finder, I don't think I ever owned a bike with one on it.
Bare