David,
What a bunch of really intelligent questions. I will let the fellows and gals that have real knowledge of numbers address most of your post.
Will however, add this to the mix: Manufacturers for as long as Al and I have been involved in this sport have underestimated the size, height, weight, pin weight, length, all those numbers. It is a industry wide "thing".
Another thing you will find after some full timing under your belt, weekend camping and full timing are not quite the same thing, many similarities, but many differences. One difference I see a lot of, (my take on what I read) is a reluctance to do a lot of boondocking. Course, maybe that is just cause we are all getting older, and softer is perceaved as BETTER!
OHHHH, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carol