Thanks for the nice post, Waulie.
We've had a few small fires this year, and tonight a little larger one (about the size you've described). You've given me some good targets to shoot for - I left the damper open a lot more and for longer than you did (see the pretty flames!). Bypass closed at 300 degrees, flue temp (Condor probe) at 350 degrees. Stovetop got up to 350 and just sitting there (very boring the way this stove holds so steady for so long), flue at about 225 (all coals now).
37 degrees outside and still heading down. Feline on the rug, loving life.
The proof is in the putty-tat. Well played sir! Did your cat light off with the flue at 350?