Belle, Ty for taking the time to put all of that in a single thread. I think I actually have hybrid to hybrid mechs somewhere, if I find them I'll send them to you.
I know you state you found there was no unique mechs related to number of towers in a build, and if that is the case then in your testing were you able to find a scenario in which any build was dtw to attack but open for assn for all hybrid, hansel and attack builds? Until very recently, i had not thought it possible for a build to be dtw to attack but open for assn for at least one of the build types you describe in this thread; however, we definitely ran across one. This is a question I have sent via email to the devs over 3 weeks ago and still do not have an answer on.
Also, in regard to how troops regen after another player pins you...not sure if it's a timer glitch/issue or what but you are not always dtw for steals after being pinned for the full 5 minutes. At best, in my experience, you can hope to be dtw for steals for 3 minutes after being pinned (sometimes even less than that). While in itself maybe it's not significant, but over hours when someone is sleeping...those precious minutes can add up. So if someone comes up for steals sooner than they "should" after you pin them, don't freak out, it's the mechs it's not you.
Belle, on a kinda unrelated note, if you can refresh my memory on why the devs killed the ability of your clan mates to be able to save you from a strip in the first place, I'd love to know why lol I am getting old in my kaw age I guess and there have been too many changes to mechs over the years for too many different reasons for me to recall this particular one.