I think it has been proven that there isn't a happy medium, Panama! Reason being it's a matter of personal self control and not a need for power.
I just took a 700 mile trip on a little used highway, plus into a very congested area near LA. I went through steep mountains with lots of twisties, wide open flats with no cops, and then on crazy freeways full of nutballs in a huge hurry, and through city areas at a rush hour. In my 40 year old Dodge full size I had no problem at all keeping up or pulling ahead, within reason, with a bone stock 4BT/NV4500/4.1 gears.
That's the key: within reason! If I had 4 wheel independent suspension, S-speed or higher rated tires, 4 wheel discs and Porsche handling, well, I could have gone lots faster. Regardless, I was never in
NEED of more power!
Will I turn it up? Yes, because I have the parts and it's free. May help some on mountain roads, but I don't
need to do it. Folks are folks, and some will turn it up 'til stuff breaks right & left and some less, and some not at all. That's why there's so many different kinds of cars and trucks and powertrains available in new cars, and why some people still drive their 40-50 year old warhorse trucks in the slow lane.
