Please help me iron out some details on my boka build

[ushutuppicard]

the basics:   i have an 84" long piece of 2" type L copper pipe.  im in the process of cleaning it up cause it came from a recycling center and god knows how long it was outside and what it was used for.  i also have a ferrule and tri clamp for a keg mount, and 15 gallon keg.  also have a 2" cap for the top.  keg will be sitting on a turkey fryer. 

plan:
8-10" condenser, and then 3/4" below where the condenser sits, ill have my top plate, then a 3/4" gap, and then the bottom plate.  below that, a packed column.

here are my questions after reading as much as i can.  feel free to refer me to threads if this is info i should already have found on my own.  not looking to be spoon fed as ive seen a few be accused of.

1- column height.  I have 84" of 2" pipe.  i think about 4" of that will be cut off to be flattened and used for the plates.  so 80", minus a 10" condenser, minus ~2" for the plates leaves me 68" of pipe to make the packed column.  ive heard 48-60 is ideal for 2" pipe.  i have no height restrictions as ill be running this outside.  if i do cut it down, is there any advantage to cutting it down to, say 56", having 12" leftover to make a 2nd column for when running in pot still mode? or for some other use like a graham condenser, etc.

2. how do you all deal with how tall these things are. im 6'3", but an 18" turkey fryer and a 24" keg, plus 60" of packed column... that puts the takeoff at 8'6"! plus another 10" to the top. guess ill need a stepladder?

3. pipe IDs ODs...   ive read all sorts of conflicting stuff, and to complicate things, people rarely specify which they are talking about.  for the condenser 1/4" ID or OD?  thinking ID?  for the thermometer probe, i think it was 1/4" OD?  keep a narrow as possible port for them?  the take off... ive heard for some modes you want it to be able to take off a lot, quickly... so 3/8 is preferable.  is that 3/8 ID or OD?  

4. needle valve.  almost every link ive seen to a needle valve that people bought is from 2010 or older and the link is long since void.  im seeing needle valves from $14 to $200.  

5. thermometer - obviously going to have one under the top plate.  was reading that some people put them up on the top cap as well to make sure you get full condensation.  worth it?  waste of time?  

thanks yall!