Yeah, the Lakes are on the way out. The 275 series has been upgraded. There is a 5638 series out now which is the latest in the Brunel/Alchemy/etc. series. I think it's called Sorcery.
Yeah, the Lead Edge, Trail Edge and Side deletions are deliberate, and are usually set electronically as part of the Registration processes.
You talk about your tips notebook. Neat idea. Do you have access to Eureka? Are you submitting your tips? I have submitted several and one or two have even been used on advanced training CDs for the 412/M15 family. I don't submit all my tips. Some I am afraid might give the Field Engineers heart attacks. Like I once saved a like-for-like on a 5830 at a major account by using two large tie wraps to hold down a broken frame right on the pivot point of the clamshell. Lasted until they upgraded!
The most important tool in my case, though, is the IBM-PC. That is, the Itty-Bitty Modified Paper Clip!
I have used paperclips to make c-clips, jumpers, multimeter leads, spring hooks, clamps, even to fashion fixes for broken brackets. I have an IBM-PC holding a duplex transport on a 275 right now. It's just a temp, since there is actually a FE fix for that problem and I just need to run by the account and put it on. But I could leave it like that if I wanted. Works like a charm. I used to do a permanent fix to the copy cartirdge receiver assembly on the old 5028-types. Those things would break a lot and the repair was a complete strip-down. What a pain! The most common failure was on a screw holder portion of the assembly. I used to cut down a paperclip and run a screw through it. The ends of the paperclip held the bracket and the rest of the assembly up. It turned an hour long job into five minutes. I'm all about saving time.
Speaking of which, if you work on the the earlier or lower speed Brunel type machines (I'm talking the DC 535, CC 35-55, and even the WCP 232) and you ever have to replace the scanner CCD module be SURE to use the innovator kit with the CCD Module jig. That's one of the best things the Field Engineers ever came up with, IMO. It takes the toughest job on the machine and cuts about 75% of the time (not to mention the precision adjusting) out of it. If you need the kit part number, just shoot me an email at straypooch@yahoo.com.
Also if you work on M20s and don't already know it, a lot of fax problems or "weird" electrical problems are solved by simply taking off the small door on the back cover, removing the memory chips and reseating them. In a pinch (like if you have to reorder them) the machine will run without those chips in there. It just has limited memory.
Anyway, so much for extraneous shop-talk. I think I have the answer to your power-save issue. This is long enough so I will post it on its own.