Generally, all DC motors make highest torque at low RPM, so in any one gear. You feel the force from the torque as power, though the true power is less than what it would be at higher RPM. That's why crank motors often feel more powerful than hub-motors, even though they're not. When you start off in low gear, you have high torque which makes them feel powerful.
Yes you are correct, characteristics of motor can be changed with different windings but both wye (Y) and delta do give more torque at lower speeds...however power produced and used are different. The revs rise faster than torque falls so overall motor is producing more power with increased rpm until motor reaches point where torque is falling off dramatically or it can rev no higher.( totally agreeing with you) The fall off if torque with rising rpm is common to many motors, petrol, electric and diesel, most , if not all petrol engines produce max torque around 2/3 max rpm but have steep torque curves that fade.Diesel on other hand have flat torque curves,that stop abruptly)
Its why they feel so different.
Its a bit different with pedelecs tho. All cyclists produce most torque at zero rpm.( ie if you stand on pedal) but even when peddaling normally cyclists produce falling torque with increased rpm. ( probably tour cyclists are different? Our torque characteristics are along lines of steam engines, max at zero. Its why pushbikes and steam engines don't need clutches) Pedelec torque sensor senses the reduced torque ( its torque sensitive not rpm) and correlates this torque with motor torque ( varying according to which setting) ...so not only does motor produce less torque, the controller is instructed to reduce current in line with riders reduced torque..( for yam system anyways)
I,ve experimented with mine and its almost impossible to get high current indicated ( on graphic) with high cadence ( over 65 ish) for any sustained period.( but would I need electric if I could sustain high torque / high cadence?? Its what tour riders can do)
I get max help at very low cadence, too high gear. Its almost opposite to many other,s findings..
Made us all think tho...( my smiley,s aren't working)
Your comment about feeling torque is spot on tho. Its torque at wheels we feel as acceleration in every vehicle..Its why vehicles accelerate quicker in lower gears, its why they climb hills in lower gears..( gearing down increases torque but leaves power unaffected)
In other words, in engineering terms, the nominal power rating is the mechanical power at the output shaft,the machine might be consuming more in watts because of heat losses and other inefficiencies.