Long Haul Trucker, as in Surly? Dn't think I've ever heard a LHT rider complain about anything but possibly weather and aggressive motorists.

Gear Inches?
For any mere mortal, a loaded ride up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Col_du_Tourmalet, or even one of the lesses passes would make that eminently clear. Or pretty much any climb longer than spitting distance, when there's a 3" layer of mushy snow on the ground

Because if the main thing separating you from the guys you're riding with is that your rig is heavier, they will be able to drop you when you hit a serious climb.

How nice. Now we can say that you don't know what you're talking about, because you don't have a relevant reference frame.

Well sure, if you're happy making statements w/o access to decent comparison material, why would you care about what readily repeatable and controllable lab results has to say.

True, but not important. The drag generated by the derailer is entirely insignificant compared to the drag generated by the rider. As long as a rider can't maintain the perfect tuck throughout the ride, there's virtually nothing to be gained aerodynamically by removing the derailer.

Sorta true. But at least derailer setup contamination is easily verifiable. How much gunk do you think you have hiding inside an unserviced IGH after a couple of seasons.

If you're that fast on the flat you shouldn't be here posting, you should be out there, riding for money. If you're that fast downhill, you're maybe a bit brave.

So? That says more about how long you've kept at it than what effort and/or speed you used. There may well be people who've run farther than I have ridden. That doesn't make running more efficient.