As far as shifting, I've found that minimum clutch seems to be the trick to smooth shifts.
With everything adjusted correctly, I found that flicking the clutch lever about 1-2cm makes the transmission almost shift itself with a light touch on the shifter. The only time I miss shifts is when I'm pulling the lever over half way in.
My theory is that the input shaft stops or slows way down when the clutch is disengaged completely, and that makes sliding the gears harder, a little spin on that shaft and everything moves around in there easily.
I also put a tablespoon of molybdenum disulfide powder in the transmission oil, and that seems to make the forks follow the grooves in the drum easier.