Hi Jeff, firstly, re pic 2, as you are probably aware you can still make out the formers, so stuff something under part of it and go over it again, will take the eye away from that problem.
Secondly couplings, it is a case of each to thier own, I get on well with Kadees on Glen Roy and I also had them on Loch Leven and Deesdale, so they work for me. With reguard to the Magnets, as Ray quite rightly says they are better hidden although I have them on top of the sleepers on GR, but that is because they were an afterthought.
Thirdly, At least you are doing something, I cant wait to start my next OO Project, I laid a yard of track on my work bench the other night and connected up the Prodigy and gave all my OO Steam locos a run up and down. OH WHAT JOY.
Now I need some more timber and make a start on the baseboards, whoops the N Gauge board is in the way
Greedy Old Lune