Ford recommends 35psi in tires on their Crown Vic. This car in the past was the car of choice for many police cruisers and highway patrol cars.

The Calif. Highway Patrol puts and maintains 50 psi in all their Crown Vic cruisers, and claims better performance, better stability, better traction, and longer tread life ( which can be a big cost savings when you have a fleet of 100's of cars ).

I personally have NEVER EVER had a tire wear out from the center. ALWAYS the edges go first from cornering, etc. The only way you can damage your tires with too much pressure is if you put more than double the psi, and no one, I don't think, is suggesting that.

The only dis-advantage to 50% higher pressure is on sand / snow or ice.
Every tire manufacturer and every auto manufacturer states low air pressure reduces MPG, and higher air pressure increases MPG. Of course the graph is hyperbolic, meaning you get the most advantage with the first few psi, and the the benefit decreases with each additional psi.

I don't see where the debate is. There are clear facts on this issue all over the place. It should be in every manual. I for example, got it straight from Ford that +10psi was perfectly safe for all driving conditions, but may create a "harsher ride".

-John