2. MPG is achieved by keeping rpm's down though if you accelerate too slowly your mpg is less because your best mpg is while in top gear.
I disagree with this statement. Well, if you REALLY mean it, I agree with it, but, you'd have to define "too slowly". If, by "too slowly" you mean it takes several minutes to reach 30 mph, then, yes, we agree. However, if you mean push the skinny pedal hard and hurry up to get to cruising speed, then I disagree.
The laws of physics determines what is most efficient, and RATE OF ACCELERATION is a key factor in use of energy to move an object. Increase the RATE, and you increase the power required. Your muscles are engines...try to move a heavy object quickly from one point to another instead of moving it smoothly at a lower speed. It will be obvious to you which method takes more energy to accomplish.
In cars, gentle throttle use combined with timely shifting yields the best economy.
Realize that you may get better economy to skip gears altogether. When trying to get the best economy, I often shift 1st-3rd-5th. 1st to get moving off the line quickly enough not to cause traffic snarls, third is just to gain a bit more speed...gently...until I get going fast enough to be in 5th without lugging the engine. I can get in the mid-thirty mpg range IN TOWN in a manual transmission car rated at 22-29 Hwy. It takes foresight in shifting, braking, and a light touch on the throttle, combined with appropriate coasting in neutral downhill. Best this car has ever gotten at speed on the HWY is 34...but, I don't use the neutral coasting trick on the Hwy, plus the air resistance is signficant on the Hwy as opposed to city speeds....so my city driving inefficiencies equal the loss of economy provided by air resistance on the Hwy. Oh, I must say my "city" traffic isn't like most city traffic. Very light, small-town traffic, not sitting at redlights for a couple of changes, etc.
HOWEVER, I don't often drive this way, as I don't think it is too good for the engine. I usually drive at higher rpms, rarely using 5th unless going above 50 mph. Risking lugging is good for fuel economy, but, it's not good on the engine.