So a hybrid is still pointlessly expensive for me

Depends on how you drive it. If you learn to hypermile, you can get upwards of 80 MPG out of a Prius and even better from a HCH-II. However, hypermiling in typical 35 MPG car can get you 50-60 MPG, so...

The interesting thing I've learned about hybrids is that the battery actually makes them less efficient. I drove my parents' Honda Civic Hybrid to Vegas and back last weekend, and the goal was to prevent the car from using the battery as much as possible. The reason a HCH-II is so efficient is that it has a really efficient gas engine (combined with a CVT transmission). The battery is only there to give the car more power, so that it drives like a less-efficient one.

Getting about 31 mpg consistently now. Going to try to push for 35, but it's gonna take some work. Still, I was shooting for high 20s, so I'm not doing too bad.