Hi Paul, here are some practical experience notes:
1) I am using GAIN 120 and OFFSET 8, so the default values. I don't see any benefit in using higher OFFSET.
2) I am taking sky-flats, with typical exposure time 1-2 seconds. These sky-flats I calibrate with darks with same exposure time. I am also using flat tool in Ekos, my setting is 32000 +- 2000 ADU (histogram peak is in the middle).
3) I have set the white balance to 50 for both colors.
4) About the temperature, if |i understand it correctly, you want to maintain the temperature as low as possible? If yes, this not a good approach, as you need to have the same temperature for all you lights and their darks; flats and their darks respectively. I am using -10°C as target temperature for all my exposures and it is working well.

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