OK...that is sensible but with a pre-fire are we in the same boat? I am referring to the point at which we are working the coil, pulse firing. If we turn TC off and watts down, can the temp be controlled enough to get a good pre-fire?
And I am not sure I ever caught why getting the wire too hot is an issue. What is the problem with over heating the wire?
Like sedge I too get a metallic taste on new builds, wire from lightning vapes that is not tempo, I asked them if they knew if their wire was at least annealed and the response was "almost 100% certain" it was. I am going to try leaving the 40 in TP mode at 410 no wick no juice and dry fire it while blowing on it a few times on the next build.

Maybe a few of the people here can get together and send Brandon samples with batch/date from the spool markings. They did start this entire fascinating mess after all.