Power/drag
Nathan Parker
A correction to my contribution which should be defined better. i.e 'power available over drag' which I wrongly took for granted was obvious.
Flap may indeed reduce the take-run but often as not will degrade the take-off distance. Where you get your idea of the sole reasons for flap I don't know. However, please open your mind to the many reasons for the development of flap, they are numerous.
If you insist on continueing with your current practice, as described by you, I hope that you continue to do so no more than 1ft above the runway.
The degree to which flap will generate additional lift and/or reduce the stall speed is type dependant. Best Rate climb is achieved with maximum excess power over drag.
Your definition of the forces in a descent are wrong. Albeit that power is not always considered but thrust is.