Jon-

Here is the torque curve for the 2.3 ICE, the link was posted earlier by GaryG.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showp...to/864/cat/508

You can see the "deadband" between 3000 and 3500 rpm where additional power is not added by the ICE. You can feel it if you look for it while you drive.

With your questions - you have only 'scratched the surface' of the differences between this drive train and a traditional engine/transmission.
I keep learning things all the time and I've been driving mine for 2 years.