Neutral drops won't hurt idle, but they can easily snap your rear half-shafts if you have a powerful motor and sticky tires. Not to mention screw up u-joints. Give him a slap
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When you say it doesn't 'want' to go over 2000, do you mean it shifts early, or it 'won't' go over 2000?
I'd be taking that to a shop to have it looked at.
Did you check your post in the Mercury section? I have a more detailed answer there.