Let's talk about EV mode...

Dave, I understand what you mean, and you are right. You can achieve the "EV mode" also by being gentle with the gas pedal in the right situations.
But this does not reduce the "gift" of the EV mode. My case explained before, is a typical one, in which EV mode is helpful and essentially comes in for "free" - Toyota could have decided not to provide EV mode in any case (which they did, BTW, also on Gen 2 solds in EU). But again there are some specific situations, granted that you meet all the "EV" requirements, and I agree there are a bit too many and too stringent as well...the battery is also what it is...., where EV mode is really helpful and no other car can achieve it.