Was engine warm when you drained oil? Bit more will come out when it's warm.
I think it's a coincidence that fuel economy was better with lower oil level, possibly due to increase in (outside air) temperature?
The AAM engines will last forever with a little TLC - my 2E had 236k miles on the clock when I scrapped the car, engine still running pretty well. The shell usually rusts away under your bottom long before engine blows.