I watched a few videos, checked out a bunch of posts here, and spent two hours fiddling with settings and looking at the preview screen to see what they did. That preview is alone is worth the cost of the software IMO!
I feel that I have mastered this and no longer fear supports. I also no longer need to use a raft when using support, the alternating angle ability locks towers together well enough that a raft is not needed. BTW, I too have found that the -45,45,45,45,45 gives an enormously strong support matrix with only a 30% support infill. The only "bad" thing about is that they can be a challenge to remove! I'll deal with it if at the end of a 10 hour print I have a perfect model.
For the life of me I cannot think of a place where I would want a solid layer at my separation point. I am sure that there is a reason for it or that option would not be there.
Thanks for the support guys!
DLC