Ok so the Zeus (top air intakes) is ordered and the rayon is ordered, and they should solve all my woes. But it turns out I'm not quite done with this thread yet.
Yesterday I re-wicked the Ammit 25 and did a complete rebuild on the Merlin, and they both performed perfectly. I could never ask for more. Juicy and max flavor & fullness with hardly any spitback, I could chain vape on them both and they didn't even blink. Absolutely dry even during/after filling. Perfect performance.
Today I took them both to the office, one in my bag and one in my pocket, and they both went "off" in the OPPOSITE way. Neither leaked, but they both choked up. Both went just a little starved for juice, flirting with burnt hits, enough that it makes me want to come home and rebuild. I had to lower the wattage on both to baby them a bit. Really?!
All this tells me either we'll talk about juice clogging my wick, or there was some wick expansion/tightening within the wick holes overnight.
Until I learn otherwise, my conclusion is that the standard/regular RTA geometry is too finicky/temperamental, and top air intakes rule the future. That way it can run a little wet and so what. Maybe like squonking or RDAs. Then the only risk is tight wicking that starves the coil.
I'm certainly not done with these present devices. They're fun. But I can't wait for that Zeus.
So, sorry for the long story but that's how much it takes. I didn't have time to write a short one.
Somebody teach me where I'm wrong. Please and thank you.