Regarding 1st gear though I wouldn't call it a stump pulling option as 2.125:1 is significantly taller than the stock 550 1st gear ratio of 2.353:1. The whole exercise was to be able to make a gearbox with tighter ratios of my choosing.
My idea to launch the bike with that lower 1st gear ratio would be easier on the clutch than the much taller Yoshimura ratios used. Everywhere else on any track will not need 1st again and still have five tighter gear choices available. Of course not every track will use all 6, but fingers crossed it all works out. 
Perhaps the dual range 900 ten speeds are more set up for pulling stumps. Older Subaru's had a nice dual range feature , too.
The trouble with too many gears is just that; too manny gears. On an 18 speed bike you start counting teeth and calculating ratios and you usually find duplicate gears.
