instead of 2 or 3. This will enable the search bots to clearly understand what the page is about and hence rank high for it. Trying to optimize for several could just confuse them and end up with something thats neither here nor there.
You could create extra pages for the second or third, fourth...important keyword that is relevant to your site. I would focus on more keywords or phrases so that the keyword/phrases with strong competition is not the only thing you are trying to get good results for. In this manor you can still attract visitors to your site by using the potential of other relevant searches that you have more chance getting good results for and automaticly bringing the number one keyword/phrases pages to the attention of your visitors in one way or another on these ''second'' choice pages. Don't use duplicate content otherwise you could be penalized for doing so and you will achieve the opposite of what you are trying to achieve.
are you telling or asking? my experience has been that going for a couple per page has been good. Any more though and I agree with you.
Go for the best search word/phrase on your home page and no more than two on other pages. But add lots of pages, each of around 300 words, based on popular search terms. And don't worry too much about KEI.
Yes is true! you got it! google care about website category , website relevancy ... google don't care about high PR backlinks (if they are unrealted , from link farms; website directories...etc) you got it!
Yes I will always do 2 - 4 per page. But not completely different keywords. All the keywords compliment eachother, so they are easy to work in and can be done quite easily. Most times they also compliment your case and provide you with lots of variations for link texts etc etc. Brad