That's quite a list of equipment for a contractor, and an equally impressive list of qualifications-hats off to you tFord. Sounds like your rates need to increase to support all that, but if your like me gear collecting is a hobby in itself, somehow I justify all my toys because they "make" me...
Both, no friction when shifting side to side, and bridges last forever, to the point where I replace them just for ease of mind even though they pass visual inspection
That as it is I don't have any problems setting knots in it for the occasional base tie with a Yosemite bowline, or an alpine butterfly for whatever reason.
I don't really tie any knots in it with the exception of a stopper at the end of the line, I use a short piece of anything for a base anchor and have a carabiner set with a tied off munter on the HTP
I still need glasses, the integrated Protos shades are pretty sweet, I never have to worry about forgetting them in the truck, and the ropeteks are awesome.
Petzl had a pretty sweet adjustable bridge they had on display at the itcc, attached to the open ring, basically looked like an atc device, they said it should be rolling out at the beginning of the year.