I checked the thread, the data you listed were your impressions and some indication of the way the engine acted. What was your total ignition timing for the tests? What was your mechanical advance curve all in at? Jetting? 60 foot times? 0-60 mph times?

Twenty years ago, I ran my mostly stock spec 400 (I listed the specs several times recently if you want to check) on a mixture of regular leaded and premium unleaded with no pinging. Built the same way as the factory with one exception, zero-decking the block - which you don't accept as being a factor in detonation control, but I thought I should mention it for clarity. It ran very well once I tuned it. Fact. No 1/4 mile times, 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds with a TH400 and a 2.56 open diff, max acceleration rate of .41 gs in first gear, 19 US mpg, 140+ mph topend. Are those the apples you're talking about?

I'll state what you should be stating so that what you're saying is clear: more octane makes more power - if you're using too low an octane fuel and either have detonation or have retarded the timing to prevent detonation. But only because it allows the engine to make its maximum power. Adding more octane than that will not increase the power.

Once again: fuel that is rated at a higher octane does not have more energy than a lower rated fuel.