Thank you for starting to apologize. You said a lot more that I'd appreciate apologies, but it is a good start.
Now it is my turn.
You're right that I said that you probably didn't know about the hot/cold water freezing weirdness when I had no evidence of that. I shouldn't have assumed ignorance as strongly as I did, and I apologize for having done so. A large part of the reason that I did is irritation with you for saying that anyone who could think that slow stop and go could possibly be more efficient than highway driving is an idiot who doesn't know basic physics. Since I consider that possible, and I think I know basic physics, this hit a nerve.
The reason why I brought up the water example is the following parallel. We have a situation where an obvious fact leads anyone with a basic physics education to assume that the answer goes one way. In fact it lead a lot of scientists to assume that they knew the answer, despite widespread folk knowledge and historical observations to the contrary. In fact reality is more complicated, and the obvious answer in this case isn't always right.
Now are you willing to admit that he and I weren't necessarily ignorant of basic physics when we say that slow stop and go can possibly be more efficient than highway traffic? And that furthermore the fact that I would say so is not particularly damning about my knowledge base or intelligence?
Imagine you're the manager of a group of delivery truck drivers, and a driver comes to you after having stranded himself on a trip, and gives you that same sentence. Most people are going to look at him like he's an idiot, or have to try not to.
You may not be giving truck drivers enough credit. Truck drivers make their living trying to beat operational costs while driving something with the aerodynamics of a brick. I have a couple of relatives who have been long-distance truck drivers, and they are keenly aware of the value of driving slowly, drafting off of other trucks, making no unnecessary maneuvers, etc.