WOW, thanks for taking the time to spell all that out! That is a HUGE help and gives me a lot of places to leap from in further studies.
*Looks up resting tone*
When I pick progressions like that it is all through feeling, same with words in my poems/lyrics. It is one of the few times I really find expression and if I am not in sync with my emotions then I just can't seem to do it. That is why I don't write much.
I have been really trying to temper myself to get into better rhythm and more consistent. Using proper tempo and using proper 'space' (like knowing what to emphasize, and not just trying to play as much as I can as fast as I can) are two of my biggest problems.
I like rough, makes me feel like I am hanging out. My old buddies in Des Moines had a punk band called the EZ Cheerleaders, they changed their name, but I love their music.