> I got to wondering whether at a certain point, it isn't true that sheer luck takes over and separates the high scores from the *really* high scores. I figure that you can work out the strategy with the best probability for accumulating gold in EF...

Yes and no. Luck is certainly a large factor, but my strategy guide wasn't always crystal clear about which moves you should make. With the monster battles, in particular, it's not always clear whether you should take the risk or not. Keeping enough hit points to stay alive and accumulating as much gold as possible are objectives that are at odds with each other. Developing an optimal strategy is the skill part; whether it actually pays off (i.e., if the events you bank on actually occur) is the luck part.