I think I really scewed up during initial start up...

When you've blown a battery up in your face, you tend to avoid alligator clips!

Long story short, the battery says "Avoid Sparks" for a reason.

Anybody who wishes to try such a thing is welcome to it. I just never told them to.

Chief, I think you may be getting a little over cautious on this issue. Nobody said you had to take it off the battery end. I agree that doing everything by the book is the way it should be done, but backyard hobby mechanics use backyard mechanic tactics sometimes. I think everyone on this forum is guilty of that from time to time. No need for the big disclaimer. Kev