Anyhow it looks like once again I have managed to get myself into a situation where I will be fielding "what if's" forever.
So all you good people fly your airplanes any way you choose, and I shall fly mine the way that has worked for over half a century for me with no problems safety wise nor mechanically wise.
Okay. I don't see it that way - for me it's an interesting discussion and it's something worth discussing. You're a very very experienced aviator and that's why I was interested to hear your viewpoint, which as I say, is in contrast to another experienced aviator.
I have not read the claims by W. Atkinson, my comments were based on known physics.....namely friction is a result of travel and rate of travel, in the case of a light four stroke engine such as being discussed here the higher the RPM the further travel you will have with all components.
I am basing my broad assumption on the basis of the less distance your comonents such as pistons travel the less chance of wear.
I am definitely no expert on this. However, as I understand it, your assumption is an over simplification which might seem sensible at first glance, but is actually wrong. Atkinson claims to have measured data which proves this. Apparently it is to do with higher RPMs resulting in lower internal cylinder pressure.
Lets have a look at large radial engines and read the engine manufactures recommandations regarding RPM and manifold pressures, I have yet to operate one that did not have limits on RPM and manifold pressures.
I am talking about typical small piston engines as found in the typical private GA aircraft in the UK, which after all, is what most of the people on this forum actually fly.