Plenty to be learned here Matt, thats for sure! Yes, up to only last night I've always used waveletts similar to you ie: #6-30 to 40 / #5-24 to 30 etc etc etc. I'm stacking the same AVI right now as ANOTHER experiment, this time using 1 & 2 waveletts only. (depends on the amount of frames stacked here, as to how far you can push them)
I don't collimate until the scope has reached ambient. I was collimating using 2X barlow + extension tube + 7.5mm EP the last few nights....Now I use 2X barlow + extension tube + toucam.
I see better 'quality' diffraction rings/central obstruction on the laptop than by eye threw an EP. Try it. (On a fairly bright star close to the intended target) You'll have to boost/tweak gain & gamma to get a good image.
I think cooldown is just as important as collimation with SCT's. I set mine up just after sunset, cover it & forget it. By the time Jupiters high enough, I'd say its very close to ambient, even without the cooler.