I didn't think it was the same. I thought that since the amount of thrust could be measured so exactly there really would be no error.
Part of the reason I slow down at a stop light is because I'm burning fuel the whole time I rush up to it. Slamming on the breaks is wasting gas. Even if I didn't care about that, I really can't be 100% sure how much pressure I'm giving to the breaks, how well the tires and road will grip, etc.. I don't know much pressure will be needed to stop the motion.
In space, all of that is removed. 200 lbs of thrust to the east should be exactly canceled by 200 lbs of thrust to the west, right? Just trying to understand better.