Shug it is good you are still flying.
If I may it sounds like the motor is running rather lean. It is a good idea to copy a setup from someone else and do EXACTLY what they recommend. Tuned piped motors run in a narrow range and if you want to change speed you do not change the way the motor runs but you change the pitch of the prop. To change the pitch get a container at least as deep as the prop blade is long, heat the blade with a heat gun to soften the resin, twist the blade to change pitch then place the blade in the water to cool off and set the new pitch.
I am probably one of those who watched all your videos. I wish I had a little camera to look at the wing during the flight.