"Though it wasn't particularly fuel-efficient, just a bit more than the 4-cylinder Accord of the time, it was much more efficient than the normal V6 Accord":
That's good in theory but in reality the Accord hybrid got worse mileage then regular V6 Accords in normal driving.
Honda has never got knack for building a good hybrid.
What's your basis for that affirmation?
Going by the reported fuel economy on fueleconomy.org, the 2005 Accord Hybrid has 31 examples, ranging from 22 MPG (10,7 l/100 Km) to 43 MPG (5,5 l/100 Km) with an average of 29,4 MPG (8,0 l/100 Km).
The Accord V6 of the same year has 25 data points, ranging from 18 MPG (13,1 l/100 Km) to 33 MPG (7,1 l/100 Km) with an average of 26,3 MPG (8,9 l/100 Km).
The Accord I4 manual has 11 reported fuel economies, ranging from 26 MPG (9,0 l/100 Km) to 34 MPG (6,9 l/100 Km), with an average of 29,4 MPG (8,0 l/100 Km).
I'm aware of some people saying they get bad fuel economy, but how can we know for certain these people would really get the same with the normal V6 version? Maybe their commute just sucks for fuel economy and they are awful drivers and they would get much worse if they did have the other car.