26 to 2800 for cruise, crank it up occasionally at the shootouts.

Depends on the motor really. If you have an engine built and designed with a redline of 6500rpm or so, running it at 4000rpm is just loping along and wont hurt anything. However if you have one that is limited to 4800rpm, turning it 4000rpm all the time isnt so healthy.

I run mine right around 65% of max revs for cruise. Seems like most others do similar. I really cant cruise much slower, it doesnt like running 3000rpm for too long (maybe its me that doesnt like it)

Cruise at 3.5k which is a fun 50 mph, but always have to see the needle hit 80 one quick time before ending the day.

I m talking about motors running up to 5200 to 5500 rated by the manufacture. I mainly interested in the way people run 496-600 motors

WOT til someone else lifts!!! But it is a 2 stroke outboard, no valves

454 Mag--I cruise at 4000 rpm and 50 mph most of the day....5000 rpm and 63 mph usually coming back home.

4200 rpm to 4800 rpm 50 to 58 mph gps. My motor is a ported v-8 Johnson outboard.

You want reliable or you want longevity.
4000 reliable = yes. Does it shorten overall life span compared to 3000? yes.

Yes more longevity is the goal. How many hours can be expected for a 496ho anyoone.

22'Velocity 406sbc w/Alpha drive and Hydro cone 27p Hydro Quad IV
Cruise between 3500-4200rpm ~52-65mph depending on conditions.
Very rarely run it out. Don't know top speed. Hit 85mph gps last week at 5600rpm. Hit 6200rpm this spring racing a jet ski but no gps on board. Rarely do this, don't like fixing broken parts...