Jim sez>
 but ethanol is still the better
fuel from an engine/thermodynamic standpoint.

Do tell.  I am interested in how it is a better fuel from a thermodynamic
standpoint.  BTU/unit volume (not likely) or some other measure?

Lord Kelvin is reputed to have said that  "if one professes knowledge but
cannot express that knowledge in numbers, then his knowledge is of a meagre
and insufficient kind"

Feynmann was noted for statements like..."No matter how elegant the
hypothesis, or how eloquent it's presentation, if it doesn't agree with the
data, it's wrong"

Walt Kelly penned "We have met the enemy, and he is us"  Not the van, not
the E85, US.

Just point me to the literature reference where the thermodynamic advantage
is explained and we can go from there.