Just thought I'd wrap this up with a couple of thoughts.
Finish is always a balance between weight and appearance. I can do a very light finish, but it will only be marginal on appearance. I can do a killer looking plane, but odds are, it will be a tank. It's a knack getting a finish that is light and looks great. Some are great at it, some not so much. Finding that balance is a skill that takes time learning.
One piece of advice: if you think the paint you are putting is going to be too heavy, it probably is. It's always better to sand than to live with a great finish on a marginal plane. Second thing is, if something is bugging you, fix it. You will be happier in the end. Looking at the plane on the flightline months later, all you will be able to see is the mistake even if others don't see it. Much as I decided that all I would be able to see on this new plane was the marginal cockpit detail and that fog on the inside of the canopy. It wasn't much, but I would see it every time I flew the thing. So I cut the canopy off, re-did the finish under the canopy and put on a new canopy. While not the level of some I've seen, it's OK in a minimalist sort of way. Kinda classy. And I won't be berating myself this summer on a marginal job. Besides, the canopy tint is better this time.
Point is, you have to decide what you can live with and what you want. As most of you have seen on these pages, some guys can put out spectacular finishes - real pieces of art, but sometimes they pay a price for that in weight. Top fliers I know do very nice finishes, but they are seldom (sometimes, but seldom) front row. They are certainly serviceable and in many cases really nice jobs, but the focus in on a good flying plane that is also good looking, not the other way around. I'm always happier with a plane that flies really well even if the finish is not top shelf.