My tonearm(s) are level.

Both the 5E tips I got are slightly bottoming out occassionally on imperfect (mildly warped or noncentered hole) records or if I just hit stop/play when set to the "optimal" 1.75 grams. Is that normal? I'm not sure if it's affecting the sound, or not, but I can see that it's either touching or almost touching. There is little to no light showing through underneith at times when it's playing and I've got a flashlight behind it.

I find they do not do that at 1.5 grams, but the sound is less warm, more unkempt, and there is the beginnings of frequency intermodulation distortion in the highs on very loudly mastered pressings. Is it better to live with a little bottoming out to the metal plate on the bottom of the OM from time to time, or should I be just getting used to the tone and distortion at 1.5 grams?

To be fair, the sound is not as overly bright at 1.5 grams as the Stanton 500EmkII and at that weight it's about the same FIM distortion as the 680EL at 1.825 grams...still very good. But on perfect records, the OM 5E is so neutral and supremely undistorted at 1.75 grams...and yes I tested with the Hi Fi News Test Record.

Geez, I'm a little conflicted here, and my Rek-o-Cut downforce scale is difficult to give me 1.625 grams precisely to try something in between. Tempted to try that downforce, but I'm surprised I'm getting any bottoming out at anywhere inside the recommended 1.5-2g range.