its a safety thing. You can be the best rider out there, but that dumb fuck in the minivan is still going to change lanes right into. The scooter idea is great if you can pick one up for cheap and if you live in an area that would allow you to avoid the dumb fuck minivan driver. St. Pete generally isn't one of those areas. Tampa isn't either. You can take the back roads and cut through neighborhoods and what not, but that is a bit annoying dealing with stop signs and all of that.
I personally find a motorcycle to be much safer. It gives you the on demand power to get away from the dumb fucks on the road. But even then, there is still no such thing as a fender bender on a bike. I was sitting at a red light on us19, headed to work one morning and has someone bump my rear wheel knocking me and the bike over. I jammed my wrist and elbow pretty good and broke the mirror, dented my tank and torqued a brake line to the point of leaking. That was at <1 mph.
You also have to factor in the need of a second car. On an individual basis, having a motorcycle, and a car just isn't cost effective. You spend more buying the motorcycle and maintenance and gear and insurance than you save from the difference in gas. The only way it is really effective is if you live with someone who has a car and you have the bike. Even then, it can get complicated trying to get both of you to work on time when it is pouring rain.
So yeah, having 70plus MPG is awesome, but only if you can balance out the cons effectively.