My Experience

My stock '63 Lincoln survives on 93 octane gas.
What I have done is install a 6A MSD ignition module and a variable timing control. The control has a small dash mounted knob which allows you to adjust timing +/- 15 degrees on the fly. When the engine starts to ping (hills, heat, etc.) I can back off the advance a few degrees to stop the ping and then readvance for light load cruising.
I recently tore the engine down for other reasons after about 7,000 miles and the heads, valves, etc. look fine. This solution costs money and may not be for everybody but I like the idea of being able to control timing to suit conditions. It beats carring around a small end wrench to jump out and fiddle with timing at the bottom of each California mountain grade!
I am having a rebuilder in Houston build a short block and he is suppling OEM style 10 to 1 ratio pistons at my insistance (which he says are available)