I think you're getting such different opinions on what rear gear to use because of what you said you were looking for as far as performance. I first read you wanted "more punch but not crazy", then "top end is what I'm looking for now", then you want to throw your head back. You are not going to get it all with a rear gear change. You will have to have a compromise of something in between. I was advising on retaining top end.

Just my opinion but, I think the 3.08:1 gears you have now are way too low a ratio. A change to a 3.36:1 would give you a bit more acceleration from stop and still give you your wanted top end. A 3.55:1 will give a bit more acceleration again but you'd lose some of the top end you want. 7.73 and up ratios will give you the head snap you want but forget the top end you want. Your last few posts make me think you want more punch from stand-still and you are leaning away from the top end, if so go for the 3:90:1 or mybe 411s. If you still want to drive on the highway without listening to the engine scream and watching the gas gauge needle plummet then compromise somewhere around a 3.55:1.

Most of us make opinions from past experiences. One guy may have a 373 rear and doesn't think it's bad on the highway at all, another guy may think that same 373 was crap on the highway. I'm the latter, I stayed in the right lane and watched everone pass me. Maybe I wouldn't have minded as much if I didn't have the noise from the 14" Flowmasters deafening me, but I really hated those gears on the highway.

Like I said that is just my opinion and I'm not an expert.

Yes I know it's kind of ridiculous talking about gas milage and muscle cars at the same time, maybe because gas is $6+ here.