Heh heh, glad to be helpful but I'm chuckling because I was apparently useful regarding compounding (which I don't do very often) with Optimum Compound (which I hardly ever use these days)!
But yeah, the amount-of-compound issues are generally either of two kinda-extremes: not enough product priming the pad or too much product compromising the cut.
The FK1000P might last a year for *me* but I wouldn't bet on it lasting that long for most anybody else...consider how, uhm....out-there my wash technique is, and that my vehicles are generally always garaged. I'll be interested to get some more data on how long it lasts for normal people.
I *DO NOT* apply FK1000P via machine. Maybe it's just me, but with any "!thin application!"-products I find it easier to use a minimal amount when I do things by hand. And sometimes the FK1000P can be a sorta hard product so getting the right amount, distributed uniformly, on the applicator pad is easier with hand-application pads. If you do it by machine, get the pad thoroughly/uniformly primed, and then try to scrape/squeeze as much as posslble back out of the pad. BUT I still bet you'll end up wasting a lot of product.
And, noting that I do love machine application of many products, including M16 and 476S, while the motions/action of doing it by machine can be *very* pleasant and much easier (IMO) than a hand-application, I question whether it actually goes any faster. By the time I get the Cyclo out, hook it up, etc. etc. I could've waxed a whole lotta vehicle.
Now I *do* like machine LSP buffing/removal with MF bonnets. Still usually have to give it a final going-over by hand, but it's that same "more pleasant motions" thing, at least for me. But again...get out the Cyclo, put on the pads, cover 'em with MF bonnets, etc. etc. and then put it all away vs. just grab a MF and buff off the vehicle.
