Good info on the tubing length, can you verify the diameter? That's important to know. Any person out there using picnic taps should take note, extra tubing is a heck of lot more convenient than the pressure yo-yo of dialing down for serving, then back up to store.
I'm surprised you can run a picnic tap at 12 PSI with
any length of tubing. I guess it's the 3/16" ID stuff? I'll have to update my kegging article if that's the case. I've never tried a tube that long to see if it could actually be done. I'll take your word for it.
You are absolutely right, keeping a keg constantly at 1 or 2 psi will mean flat beer over time. That's why I've always felt pinic taps are such a pain, having to do the pressure yo-yo thing. Can't beat 'em for cost and convenience, but the pressure thing is a real bother.
As an aside, you could probably keep beer at 1 or 2 psi for 8 or 10 hours and not notice a loss in carbonation. I think the less beer there is in the keg, the more you would notice, but I'm not sure about that.
Prost,