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Well, even if we already have a cool new term, we can always plan ahead for when that one wears out. How about, " Crunchers " or " Crunchies " ? Yes... " Crunchy " like Junky! Muahahahahahahahaha!
Munchkin is neither cool nor a proper term for optimizers as a group, as munchkins are a subsection of optimizers that powergame to the detriment of the rest of the players.
And anyone that says they don't optimize when they choose a feat that makes their character better is lying. There may be varying degrees, but unless you roll a dice to choose your feats, classes, skill ranks, and equipment, you're an optimizer to some extent
You can't be an optimizer "to an extent." "Optimum" doesn't mean "pretty good," it means "best."
Merely picking a pretty good feat doesn't make one an optimizer. Crafting a character as a Frankenstein's monster of feats, skill tricks, prestige classes and gear resulting in an unholy super-_________________, THAT's optimization.
If you choose Spell Focus (Conjuration) because it's the best choice for your character, you've just made the optimum choice. You've just optimized your feat choice. When you pick your wizard spell slots, the choices you make are those you consider the best for the day. You've just optimized them.
Optimization is not all-or-nothing and is totally subjective.
So if my barbarian takes this feat and has no ability to cast spells and I have no plans to take a spellcasting class in the future, am I still making the "optimum choice" for my character?
I agree that optimal is subjective, but only because it depends on what you're trying to be best at. Usually players are trying to create effective characters, but that does not mean that every decision they make is the best (or even intended to be the best).