i use the gear i need when i need it. if that means go to 3 from 6, or 5 from 2, i make it happen, but generally i go through the gears in order 1,2,3,4,5,6,5,4,3,2,1
I do that getting up to speed in a lower gear then skip up several to cruise. When I intend to pass some body I will skip down several, then continue to downshift till my rpm is around 8k+.