Thanks for the cool suggestion on the blunt syringe! The unit is waterproof, so if near a body of water, it can be dunked to fill the top, but I agree that it would be better to prime it more precisely if used near things you want to keep dry.

I have the red...personally I won't be hiding from bad guys while treating water, and if I drop mine I want it to stand out, so camo/natural color seems overkill to me, but to each their own.

Your overtreating is a good idea if you don't want to use the test strips.

If using it domestically, ask your parks authority about cryptosporidium, because they should know if it can be found in the area. That will give you peace of mind regarding 30 mins vs 4 hour wait times, but with your 4 bottle system you may have the time anyways.