I don't get it. I had a old rusted out 87 Mustang that I ran out of gas a couple of times that I had for 6 or so years after I ran it out of gas. Only mechanical problem I ever had with it was one of the spark plug wires melted on the engine. FYI 4 cylinder Mustangs don't work too well when only 3 cylinders are firing but it did "work" well enough to finish my drive.
It might have something to do with the climate here where it's well below freezing for about half the year that saves our fuel pumps but I haven't heard of one going bad in a 10 or more years. I guess I don't see too many cars older than 15 years anymore either unless they are classics.
My past colleague had a mk3 Golf (1999). Burned through 2 fuel pumps because being a cheap ass always never put more than a quarter of gas. (15 bucks per week).
He was always waiting for the fuel light to come on. (and still some time run the entire commute trip on it and pray to have enough gas to go home)
That's really a bad thing.
Internal electric fuel pump
use gas to cool itself and lubricate.
I'm not saying that the moment you run on gas vapor you kill the fuel pump instantly.
Why run for trouble?
Please explain what are the advantage running so low?
I'm trying to understand what are the benefit!
Also you have a pretty decent explanation here
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/195
Yellow is gas... you see its very important for the fuel pump motor cooling