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I understand that if you erase an HD without choosing an overwrite with zeroes option, the data remains on the disc, but the space that data occupies is read as free space -- available to be overwritten -- by your Mac. I'm wondering if an HD erased in this manner is optimally efficient for recording, or if a zeroed-out option (and the accompanying wear on the HD) is better. Thanks.

Hard drive failure is inevitable. Just zeroing out the drive isn't going to take any more life out than just using it but just repartitioning the drive is fine. Zeroing out is for drives with confidential data you don't want recovered but I've found the hammer does the best job.