Don Robertson, super huge welcome to NLV!
Wow! How fantastic that you are in your 9th decade and have discovered vaping! From the sound of your post, you definitely have quite a bit of spunk!
Congratulations on Day 61 of tobacco combustion freedom. AWESOME.
Like so many at the beginning of this journey, it's understandable that you sought out tobacco taste, and yes, it is true that with vliquids (I don't care for the term "juice" at all) one can never capture the taste of burning leaves. There are however, some REALLY good tobacco flavors, and this is an area where NLV shines brightly.
For starters, I would highly recommend Bounty Hunter and NLV Gold and Twilite and Tappulles. All of them are EXCELLENT and variations on a tobacco based theme. None will taste like a cigarette, but my guess is you will find them all preferable to the taste of smoke! I'm also at 18mg, and for me the taste and throat hit vaping NLV is abstolutely perfect.
The amount of vapor you produce when vaping does have a bit to do with the topper (what's on top..... clearomizer, atomizer, cartomizer) but has much more to do with the amount of VG in the vliquid. With NLV's ration of 65/35, there is sufficient VG to produce a goodly amount of vapor, but certainly not for dragon clouds. Having said that, vaping NLV will give you a LOT more than a "poof" of vapor!
Most of us around here are not looking to create weather systems in our living rooms.
I have a few iTaste V3s and I think they are wonderful. I've been using them for quite a long time now, and I'm impressed. They've definitely taken the place of my Ego Twists.
If you seek reliability, quality, consistency of flavor and percentages, fantastic customer service, speedy shipping, welp, you've come to the right place. NLV is one of the top vendors of all time in our community and continues to shine and draw people based on those facts. You will be pleased, and I "guarantee" that!
One of the things you mentioned was taste, and how you've found that it was there for the first few hits, then you were just 'blowing vapor'. Again, I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised to find that the flavor of every vape of NLV is completely consistent, never lacking.
To help you understand the "why" of the consistency of vliquids, it's really just what you said: It's the percentages of the VG and the PG. PG normally carries flavor very well, while VG carries the vapor. Getting just the right percentage is critical to the end result, and NLV's choice of 65/35 hit the nail on the head. Every bottle will be the same as the last, and the same as the next... always great flavor, meshed with significant vapor, and just the right amount of throat hit. (That trio is often fondly referred to as F/V/TH.)
I rarely vape on anything other than a variable voltage or variable wattage device, but there are occasions I'll pick up a 3.7v device. I find vaping NLV even with no adjustment to voltage still produces the perfect amount of vapor. I think when you try them out, you will have a blast experimenting and comparing your other liquids to NLV. To me, and to so many here, NLV just stands out from the crowd, and stands tall..... head and shoulders above the rest.
There is no reason to switch up and use a more complicated atomizer (read: rebuildable, aka RBA) if you don't want to. Your clearomizers are just fine if you enjoy them. My preference, just by the way, is ALWAYS a carto tank. It's lovely that we all get to choose what we like and the options are nearly limitless!
Welp, I must say that tho I don't know for sure if a Provari is in your future,

it's definitely a device that I'd recommend HIGHLY. There are about a bazillion threads here on ECF for your perusal if you do become interested in owning one. The Provari, to me, is a 'must have' in the arsenal.
Also, NLV carries sample 10ml bottles. I think that might be the way to go at first, to see what you like. I'm pretty sure your taste buds will approve and applaud your decisions.
Ramble on ANYTIME! We're all happy to have you join us here.
PS..... ya don't sound senile to ME!