I never really put too much time on optimizing website. Sure i put script at the botton, make sprite, get the crap out the HTML and CSS at the end of the contract, event tweek some javascript.
Yesterday, i getting a WordPress site ready to be launch, and delete all the unused plug-in, and getting the one i keep working and up-to-date and i try to benchmark the site just for fun
With this good and right-to-the-point tool : http://gtmetrix.com/ here it is i start at 79-80% (yslow and page speed grade).. not bad
with some tweaking and best practice apply (add expire header, gzip, etags, caching, minify) noting a plug-in cannot do... i got to the point where i score 93-94%... a score event a hand coded site cannot get... all with plug-in..
The question... all the site is not wp base.. i know.... What is you library, php, script, software to get hat king of speed from a html/javascrip/php website hand coded without too much pain...Something as easy as to download and install a plugin in WP is heaven... what is your tricks ?