I swear an oil thread like this never fails to replicate itself.......
You said it yourself

"OK...I searched pretty extensively and came out of it more confused than when I started...".

This was pretty much my conclusion and the reason I have chosen to go it alone, read my manufacturers manual, do some amateur testing myself and come to my own conclusion on oil. I suggest you do the same because the arguments put forward will just continue to confuse you, there is very little consensus except maybe staying away from 30 weight oils