Hi Breck,
I think I understand where you're coming from. I remember at one point thinking I needed to learn how to be more comfortable skiing faster for much the same reasons you expanded on in your second post. No one would say I'm a really fast skier at this point, but I keep up with most of my friends and faster alpiners/pinheads willing to wait a few beats at the bottom of the lift. So a few thoughts-- although I think you've already hit on several things that will help:
The right equipment. Sounds like you have it. Getting beefier boots and stiffer skis helped me a lot.
Ski with faster skiers. I enjoy chasing a friend who is a former alpine racer (who is now Mrs. Metsky, for those who know Dave/yad

) and it has definitely upped my speed.
Be willing to ski parallel turns on tele skis. No, you don't always have to tele. I switch back and forth all the time during a single run depending on terrain, how many other skiers there are, snow conditions, etc. Also, why waste your legs on flat greens as you approach the bottom of the mountain?
Fitness. The better shape you are in, the more confidently you'll ski. You'll also have to stop fewer times during a run.
Lessons. I asked a friend who raced on tele for a few pointers a few years back (Dana from Ttips), and we spent a few hours at a local hill working on really carving my turns and feeling that back little toe. Go when there are fewer skiers on the mountain or choose lightly used trails. He loaned me some GS skis and I got going fast enough to scare myself a bit. But it was fun and his advice helped me learn how to ski faster and in control.
More lessons. Probably the biggest thing that has helped me feel more comfortable and confident skiing faster is continuing to work on my technique. The more fluid your turns are, the more easily you can switch from tele to parallel to monomark turns, the less you'll get "stuck" in a turn which is a sure-fire speed and confidence killer.
Most of all, be safe and have fun!