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G'day Deimos. I got my LXD75 earlier this year. I have found the mount to work very well for me. I must admit that I don't know how to polar align using the drift method, but in my opinion, the LXD polar alignment scope is spot on for me. The LXD recticle 4-sided pattern of Octantis is not flipped/reversed as you state, the pattern is as according to charts and how you see it through binoculars.
When I first set up the mount, I initially located the pattern of Octantis using binoculars. Then, if you have the LXD tripod pretty level, it should be relatively easy to locate Octantis through the polar scope, adjusting the latitude angle with the two screw adjusters, and adjusting the horizontal azimuth control screws. I ignore the 24hour clock/date/meridian indicator dial on the mount, and just rotate the mount in RA until the orientation of Octantis in the reticle matches what's showing in the sky. Once this is done, next time you set the mount up, all you need to do is make sure the level is good, and only the azimuth should need adjustment to find Octantis again (since the latitude should be set for that location).
The more often you do this, the easier it becomes; it takes me less then 5 mins to align well now. Thereafter, the Goto is magic, locating most objects within 0.5 deg or so.
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