Hi, and welcome!
No need to apologize for needing more information, it can get pretty confusing!
Yes, you can buy carto's. They are an atomizer (atty) which is placed in a tube with some abosorbant material around it. The liquid is placed inside of it, and it does have a tip on it that can be used or you can place another tip on it.
As for the clearomizers, I have had a great experience with mine. No leaking, great hit and vapor, easy to fill. All the leaking, cracking and burnt taste are usually operator error. Here is my experience:
Leaking: the only time mine leaked was when I took it apart to rinse it out. There is an o ring on the bottom that had slipped out of place, once I put it back where it was supposed to be no more leaking.
Gurggling: I don't mind a bit of gurgling, it just means a good amount of liquid is being vaporized. I haven't had one flood from it.
Cracking: This can happen from using citrus or cinnamon in plastic, they react and it weakens the plastic. I don't put those in plastic.
Burnt taste: This is from not enough liquid getting into the atty. I tilt mine around a bit to make sure the wicks are wet. After a while you may get this from it gunking up, then I finish the
tank off and clean it. I take it apart, rinse everything (be careful with that little o ring!) then I "burn the coil". After you take of the little nipple under the drip tip, it is a little plastic piece with a cone, you will see where the wick is wrapped in wire. That is the coil. Dont put the top back on and put it on the batter, press the button for a few seconds then let it rest 10 seconds to cool. Do this until you see the coil burning red across the whole thing. Let it cool, then rinse it again and you are good to go. That gets the gunk out.
This may seem pretty complicated, but once you have it in your hands it will be easier to understand.
BEST OF LUCK! I love mine and it keeps me off the cigarettes, and that is the most important thing.
