Bob... my point was.... 72.3 MPG "sounds" better... but was it really better, since a longer distance was involved?

This was a good example of how short trips are a dis-advantage to MPG.
But shorter trips may be the advantage to the driver, if it reduced maintenance costs, time, etc.

I'm just wondering what the bulk of most people would choose.
Bob-sounds like you would choose the shortest TIME route,
Sounds like time is important to you. Is that your vote?

Both routes would average about 30 miles per hour so the shorter distance is for sure the shorter time route.

I'm going out on a limb to say GaryG would choose the 72.3 MPG route, but I invite him to vote himself. Gary, would you verify your vote in case I'm wrong?

Both routes start at work, end at home, so there was the same net elevation change. A few gentle hills are involved, more at the home end.
Work is "upriver" but it is a gentle slope. Work is maybe 4750 ft, Home is about 4700 ft. above sea level.

I mostly use P&G between 42 miles per hour and about 28 MPH on back roads.
Go with gas from 28 to 42. EV from 40 to 28.
My average speed was 30.
My max. speed was 43.
My top water temp was 177.
My max, RPM was 3011.

The battery was near empty ( thin sliver of green ) when I started.
The battery was near empty at home.
The water, engine, battery, etc. was at an ambient 80 degrees at the start.

Posted speed limit on work end is 45.
Posted speed limit near home is 35.
Posted speed limit in home neighborhood is 30.
The shorter route has 4 stopsigns,where I would EV down to zero miles per hour.
The longer route has 5 stopsigns, where I would EV down to zero miles per hour.
Leaving the stopsign I will EV to 20 or 25, then use gas up to 42 miles per hour.

Note: I tend to P&G up to 42 miles per hour even in a 35 zone, so I'm not going that slow.... and I had only two cars come behind me the whole trip Sunday night. It is a mostly rural area. Those cars were able to pass easily, and are used to seeing slow tractors on the roads, etc.

Is that too much information?