On your last point, i'm convinced the game has to detect what your going for in order for your board to act a certain way.
For example on a big gap or set you can do a fully crouched pop and not get close to the height of the ledge/rail or land halfway down the stairs.
Then if it detects what your going for, you will get huge pop into the grind or clear the stairs with loads of distance and height. It seems approaching at a certain angle or distance from the obstacle triggers a big assist. Theres stuff you can grind that you'd never pop that high on a flatland trick.
Basically the skill required for a lot of tricks is popping at the right place and time in order for the game assist to kick in, which is totally lame. Sure you can hit every obstacle but I want to do it myself without so much assist.
On otl, I much prefer solo but have got past 15 reqs doing so. Would be great not to go looking for a random party with these. Wish they'd scale the down for solo until they create a matchmaking lobby.
Although this week got lucky and got an invite to a 4/4 party as I approached it, with that many people was quick & easy.