A quick ride report - the shock feels awesome! It was like floating on air. More details:
1) after a few laps of the dirt lumps I needed to put some extra pair in the shock. I screwed on my trusty $$$ Topeak shock pump and zzzzzzzzzzsssssssssssshhhhhhhit! Blew 150psi straight out of the fucking shock. The hose had come loose. Anyway O tightened that up and got my pump on again. Lucky I have so many useful items in my backpack. It's sitting at about 275psi now and this feels nice for rough and tumble on trail and over the dirt lumps. But I did see to blow pretty deep through the travel on the dirt lumps. I suspect that I'll go up a bit higher in psi and when the shock next goes in for a service I'll request as many token/bands as for be installed.
2) now running about 5% HSR and 20% LSR. I'd like it a bit snappier, but I know this shock isn't a snappy style of shock. I'm usually 1 clock off topping out. I need all the help I can get!
3) I didn't play with the compression. I probably could use this to stiffen up a little without reducing the float.
Overall it will be a pretty sweet ride with the new shock on there, even if it isn't perfect for my most common style of riding. Once back from Japan i am looking forward to properly testing this new set up out!