Nor should be discuss why Deneb IV is some new, unknown world on the edge of the frontier for Starfleet in Season 1 of TNG but Kirk and Gary Mitchell are said to have experienced a fun night there when they were younger and before the second TOS Pilot, which happened more than a century before.
Perhaps. and I know were getting into a trek tech discussion of imaginary physics that might be outside the scope of things. But with antennas for instance its possible to have non-circular loops that are still radiant: like a rhombic, delta, or square shape.
Partying at the edge of the frontier?Nor should be discuss why Deneb IV is some new, unknown world on the edge of the frontier for Starfleet in Season 1 of TNG but Kirk and Gary Mitchell are said to have experienced a fun night there when they were younger and before the second TOS Pilot, which happened more than a century before.
Did it? The word "impulse" appears once in the episode's transcript, but not into relation to the saucer section.
Apologies that is explained in the tech manual. But the saucer has no warp drive functions of its own, no core, no nacelles.
Where in the episode is it stated that that the saucer section needed "warp separation" to go anywhere? Their main concern is separating while at high warp. Which is dangerous and untried, though theoretically possible. (Because that how Trek rolls
) As mentioned the saucer is less that an hour away when the drive section arrives at Deneb. They reconnect in orbit of Deneb IV. So the saucer section made the entire trip in slightly less time than the drive section. Was that at impulse? 
If the saucer were capable of warp you would assume/hope that would be less of a concern, also they could have slowed down briefly let the saucer detach and warp off on its own if it could.Where in the episode is it stated that that the saucer section needed "warp separation" to go anywhere? Their main concern is separating while at high warp. Which is dangerous and untried, though theoretically possible. (Because that how Trek rolls
Well factor in how long the Picard was bantering with Q and how far the drive section had to double back and that could have been quite a long journey for the saucer, we also don't know how long it took for its warp inertia to die off before impulse took over.
To be fair this is an assumption I made before checking that as it seemed obvious to me. But the not seen on screen philosophy is a safer school of thought.
I think Gene either forgot about the planet from his second TOS Pilot or deliberately reused it, but either way it comes off sounding like TNG forgot that starship crews had already visited (and had some good times) there and long ago.
Indeed. The books are nice but I shouldn't feel the need to study to know something.
That's where PIC Season 4 would have come in.
I mean, of course. But of such things are story seeds hatched, or they should be.
