I hear you, and I'm already switching my driving. I'm still on my first tank but I've already started NOT babying it as much. I agree with others that it's more important to get up to speed and keep up with traffic. South Florida will not treat me kindly if I poke at a snail's pace off the line. Jim T made some great points about dispelling the myths of the Prius being a boring, slow car. I do want to act as an advocate and increase adoption of a fuel-efficient car. Hell, after owning it for just over a week, I'm already in favor of the federal government placing some sort of mandate on auto manufacturers to move to hybrids. It makes so much sense! It's really fun, involves you more in the driving, better for the environment, better for our wallets, etc.
Don't just rely on "belief", try testing, to see how much your higher pressures are improving mpg. Try higher, try lower. Weigh also: harder tires transmit more shocks into the suspension and bearings. Maybe raise pressures above spec, but only a modest amount?
I've been under the impression that Eco mode only smooths out the gas pulses the ECU delivers so that slight variations in foot pressure don't constantly tell the system it needs more gas. That and a slower reaction to slight foot pressures. But you can still floor it if you need to and get into the Pwr range. I do run a few pounds over recommended keeping the front tires higher than the rears. Not in the 40s though. Auto seems to control the A/C. Play. Experiment. You aren't going to hurt anything. Just don't get too distracted by looking too long at the displays.
There is a fine line between try to get better fuel mileage and being obsessed about it. A lot of people on here are obsessed with it. They run way to much pressure in there tires and drive way to slow giving Prius drivers a bad name. Spending way to much time watching their display and other gauges they have installed. Just as dangerous as texting. Just do factory recommended air pressure in tires and drive it like you would any other car and enjoy comfortable economical ride. Sorry if I made anybody mad!
