Sixpack on a 318 engine ?

You'd have the RPM of each engine to know.

In the example above the 302 has more RPM and can use more gear.

Just line rock crushes scissors, gears crush torque.
Maybe. IF (big if) you are willing to USE the gears. (Much easier nowadays than it used to be, now that 8 speed automatics with two or three overdrives are available!).
But I'd rather have great torque with reasonable gears that would give the same power and performance as a car with crazy gearing and rpm. Better street manners better gas mileage, better engine life, same performance? No-brainer.
( and for reference, the big block/small block test referenced, big block hp peaked at 6000, carried to 6200 pretty well, the small block peaked at 6600, and fell off at 68/6900.
They figured to run 115, the big block could use 3.73s, the small block would need 4.88s.
I'll take the torque and 3.73s every time.