After are-reading my original questions and taking into account people's tips (and doing some more reading)..
I'm happy with the 12.5mm EP I bought, it's a good low power and barlows as a nice moderate power. I think good value for $70.
I probably could've done without the 17mm Hyperion for now and gone the other way, maybe an 8mm. 12.5mm and 17mm are too close. The 8mm would've given me 100x, 156x, *B200x and B312x (along with the 25mm and 40mm cheapies as finder EP's).
Instead I have 73x, 100x, B147x and B200x, not including my 4mm and 9mm cheapies. I do love the wide view in the Hyperion though. Again I think good value for $155. I will either keep it or sell/trade. Both EP's have wide views and good eye relief.
Perhaps a good 3x Barlow (additional to my 2x) would be the go, giving me 73x, 100x, B147x, B200x, B219x and B300x all up. Would still like something higher than 300x though, for those good nights.
There's still a bewildering range to choose from though, even within the one brand, but in the end it boils down to eye relief and field of view when choosing between better brands, as they are all very good mechanically and optically. Please correct any glaring errors
*B for Barlow