Insane people...

I'm burning 6GB at an idle.

I must be a 'power user' ....typically running at 18 gig used...

Well if you only have 1 gig just keep seven. Don't go to eight. If you have eight go to seven.

I generally hover around 4.3 GB out of 16. 

Well it doesn't affect me as all my machines do [or will] run 64 bit.  I haven't run a 32 bit machine since Vista was in beta.   Besides, my desktop machines all have 32gb of RAM, and my HP 2-in-1 has 4gb, so I'm more than adequately covered in any event.

Typically, the more you have the more you'll use... with most machines averaging just on or just over half the installed amount.  My big beast hovers on 51 - 52 % at 16gb at idle, while my other beast runs at 48 - 49%.  Some will say that that much RAM is unnecessary and overkill, but it is so good to have when one is performing resource intensive operations.  Right?

Yeah, I have 8GB and idle using 35-40%, so I have enough to do other things at the same time.  W7 with an old duel core.