Saying 17psi is the most boost you can run isnt right. You cant assume you can only run 17psi of boost. It depends on the turbo that your running and how big or small it is. Your injectors will max out before you run enough boost for it to be too much for the ECU.
The JWT Turbo ECU's timing is SUPER conservative. When I say that Im serious. My car is about 30-40whp down just because of the timing maps they have on the ECU (you can up your base timing but thats kinda just a bandaid). Because of that...you can run MORE boost with less problems with Detonation. To a point that is. My car has seen 22psi runs from like 45mph up to the end of the Speedo lol with no probs.
You guys are scaredy cats! I run about 18-20 highest on pump (8.5:1 w/ Conservative JWT ECU). If I run anything over 20 or im going to the track or something with high boost then Ill just hit the BP and run a few gallons of 100octane mixed in.
*edit* just saw you have a DE block. I would run a few gallons of 100octane on anything over like 18lbs. But thats just me.