Real interesting read bf. I think your on track pretty well. I used to know the book and generally play by it in casinos in mn.
You make an interesting point.. it seems if you are the odd guy making off-book plays and everyone else is on the book, you get the advantage. As you even said, "bet off book sometimes" (but be consistant with you're off book bet, which makes sense) but as you also said leave the table if you get someone really all over the place with their play.
Takes balls of steel to play off the book and piss everyone off tho, but ya pretty much have to have balls of steel to even think you can make it as a gambler.
Remember something I learned on some long losing rides home alone: (when I finally quit for good, altho my friend drags me back and we play with a small limit)
You either gamble or you dont gamble. If you gamble, the game is never over until you quit gambling. Even if you win and leave with their money, the money is only "on loan" until you bring it back into action. Doesn't mean you cant cont to win over time and in essence be ahead, just that it isnt ALL your money until you one day quit.
This applies more to slots thos, they win a jp and then continue to come back 10 times and give it all back.