I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one. Dunking, even if one is just a rim-grazer, is not a well-devised plan. Rather, it's a bang-bang play and contrary to popular belief, I think people tend to jump higher while they're being chased. I know full well that's the case for me.
On one hand, I've definitely had my moments where I've leaked out on a fast break and found myself all alone, thus paving the way for an open dunk where I can approach as I see fit. However, I've also had those moments where I pick someone's pocket or am able to just slip past a defender in transition, with them giving valiant chase and forcing me to push as hard as my body allows. Those are the moments where my stride truly opens up, the speed maximizes and my takeoff seems to step up another notch. It is while I'm being chased (or while I'm in a dead-set adrenaline push) that I'm able to jump the highest, often resulting in dunks where I take off from further away and finish stronger than I'm used to.
Granted, it's not a mega-boost. It's not enough to transform non-dunkers to dunkers, but being chased (with the defender behind, not beside or in front), whether it be by some schmo at the park or Chris Paul, usually does nothing but maximize a dunk opportunity, not limit it. All the stuff you brought up: judging distance, transferring momentum, controlling the ball, that all occurs subconsciously in the split second before and during take off. There's not a lot of actual calculating there.
The situation being discussed sort of reminds me the Jason Williams dunk below. How often did we see Williams dunk in his career? Here and there when he was young. How often did we see him take off from well beyond the charge circle? A little less frequently. Why'd it occur here? He was in full stride and he was being chased. He knew he was being chased (looking back), so his body responded. He's able to palm the ball here but as someone who can't palm the rock myself, I can say it doesn't make a difference in terms of gathers in situations like this:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UkUNJZSeJR8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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