Onhwy61, the analogy with motorcycle racing is one I must applaud you for!
This is the argument I've been making here and there on this site over the past year or so. Quite simply, the move of measurements from algebra to calculus.
Previously, in motorsports, the means of measurement you enumerated dealt with the steady state - algebra. As you also noted, because of the intense competition (and available processing power) they were forced to transcend that realm of operation, and now deal in the real time measurement of acceleration/deceleration, forward/reverse, stop/start, etc - calculus. At that point, folks are able to digest this data, make adjustments, and ultimately implement things which yield tangible benefit to the craft.
It would be nice, as you say, that this transition also took place in audio. Unfortunately, I must say that I am not as sanguine as you are about how this will proceed in our niche. In my opinion, with few exceptions, this lies beyond the ability/capability of the designers currently in the high-end audio hobby.
