Help with Everybody's Different (not a folder structure issue)

[gheedorah]

I'm keeping EBD at the bottom of my load order, and following all instructions. It's mostly working, but I can't figure out how to get some of the settings right (this is not a folder structure question/problem). Can anyone help me out?
 
1. In the MAIN settings, the first option (to change heights) does NOT mention that it "supersedes specific settings" (as all the other options in the MAIN section [eg headparts, meshes/textures] do). It does mention "pre-determined" settings. So, if I edit height options (e.g. make orcs taller) in the specific tab for height settings (and save those edits at the bottom) should I then check or leave unchecked the height setting in the MAIN options?
 
2. I've tried patching with most/all options in the MAIN settings (including checking, and unchecking, "consistency" option) selected. I get a patch (10 mb or so). However when I go through each tab individually to tweak it exactly how I want it, and leave the boxes in the MAIN settings unticked (because they "supersede specific settings" or whatever the verbiage), I get a tiny little patch, maybe 750 bytes or so. I've remade this patch a million times, most of the time deleting the old patch first, and making it new, (I've tried with, and without, "consistency" enabled).
 
I have all required dependencies (UI Extensions, various properly-packaged texture packs, etc). I'm starting from a save game in the starting cell from Alternate Start, where I've done nothing and encountered no one (only just tweaked mod settings for various mods through MCM, before selecting a start at the statue), so there shouldn't be anything in that save file in terms of EBD, right? I don't need a brand new start for it do I?
 
All I'm looking to do is get this working with the spell actually showing up in-game, use some specific height tweaks, and have it not touch female khajiits. It can do whatever it wants with all my texture/mesh packs, facial items meshes, etc. I'll have the spell to change head stuff anyway. Hopefully.

I'll take any help I can get.