Tom,

analyzis is neccesary to learn, isn't it? That is part of the reason why we are on this forum?
What you are saying is the same as I have been trying to say, but everybody have to go out on the water and spend time to get the feel and timing for it.

Stuffing the bows is slow anyway. But if the ride is just too wild for your skill, you have to adapt to it. From the pitchpoles we have done under spi it is worse to sit in and hit boards, mast, wires etc. compared to hitting just the water. I have the scars to prove it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> If the difference is going swimming or saving it, sitting in is the best way of course. If you can drive the boat from the trapeeze and it is faster. Well..
Limitations and skills are individual so what is fast for you might not be fast for me, and the other way around. "Properly" is a definition which will change from event to event, day to day and over time.
Why dont you describe in detail what you mean by "properly" downwind driving technique for everybody to study? Both we F16 diehards and the I17 sailors would benefit from that.