I was hoping others had seen the same behavior, in part, because I would like to figure a way to cheat it into working that way all the time.

I love when I can use the assist for all the heavy work, and save the gas for just the light load of cruising. And I was getting good drivability for those miles that it was "low fuel". The only time I worry about saving the assist is when I have to climb the hill at Stony Brook Park, south of Letchworth on NY Rt. 36 southbound. Coming back, that hill can recharge the batteries from about 40% discharged (60% capacity) to full with regen cutting out just before the bottom of the hill.