[DonC]

A minimum combination of 3 factors is going to determine what you end up with for cruising rpm and getting out of the hole. Transmission gear ratio, rear end ratio and tire size (diameter). What you want to do with the car is also a big determining factor.
I spent quite a while with the gear ratio calculators before I made my final decision. I got my ERA to drive and I've been doing as much as possible (10,000+ miles to date) and, for me, my selection works quite well.
I'm running a TKO 600II with the 2.87 1st and 0.82 5th, 3.07 rear gears and 315/35/17 tires (25.68" dia.). This combination gives me about 22 or 23 hundred rpm cruising at 70 and still gets me wheel spin in 1st and 2nd if I'm standing on it. Around town in 3rd and 4th (25 to 35 mph speed limit).
The car is extremely traffic friendly with no bucking, jumping or balking in traffic between lights although I try to adjust my speed to time the lights to minimize the stop and go when possible. When I had the opportunity to run a track day last summer I was very pleased with how the car managed the track. Lots of rpm range for the turns and pushing 120 on the front straight before having to slow down for the chicanes.
A big factor in the driveability of the car is the big block. At 450hp and 500 lb/ft at the flywheel I can run at the lower rpms in town without a problem.
FWIW if I were running a small block I'd probably opt for a lower rear end and a 0.68 5th to keep the rpm in the useable range across the board.
DonC