Again folks, it has nothing to do with the fuel cutoff (all gasoline, ICE engines cut off the fuel when you release the accelerator.... even your old fashioned carbureted and manual choke cars).
Nor does it have to do with whether it's front wheel drive or rear wheel drive: BMWs have amazing throttle response, they've built their reputation on it.
It is a normal part of the driving dynamics of Hondas, and it's been like this with every Honda I can remember driving or riding in, and it's been a few over the last 20 years. Both automatic and manuals.
Honda manuals and autos use a final drive ratio with around a 4.7:1 while the turbo-hydromatic 4 speed has a final drive around 3.11:1 . This is for a couple reasons: first it enables their high reving engines to stay within the sweet spot of the power output more effectively, and also enhances throttle response.
The reason GM and other manufacturers use tall OD ratios is to improve fuel economy. Check the fuel economy on an old GM 3800 with the T460E. It probably says something like 18 city/31 highway. You'll notice many GM cars running at 70 mph at barely over 1000 RPM. That's nice for freeway cruising, but ****s if you need to pass. If you have a stick you'll need to throw it down to third gear, and if you have an automatic you need to punch the pedal to the floor to kick that transmission out of OD.
And obviously, slowing down with such a wide gear ratio forces you to use the brakes more often thus why American cars typically run through front brakes faster than Japanese cars. I know each set of my Prelude brakes lasted 70k miles. Engine braking is a wonderful thing, and you don't need to downshift to use it. A properly engineered car will decelerate when you release the throttle no matter what gear it's in.
