I have had the occasional instant burnt poly taste. That one you can chalk up to a dud carto. Not really sure what to say on the other part. I always use the SR cartos personally and I've never had the Provari error out on me. I suppose it's possible the dud cartos react to the moisture and lower the reisistance, but I'm just spitballing.
QC issues at wherever boge gets their cartos massproduced. def dont blame you for it, theres no real way to check either