Hi @blockhilltop
A) would adding worker names (ie walletaddress.worker1 walletaddress.worker2 etc) reset my pool data when I look at my stats on the pool (ie bestever, total shares, etc)? Not sure how much it matters, but I'd rather not reset these (I know it doesn't effect the luck of the draw, but I'd like to preserve and maintain these total data points without resetting or losing them)
Adding worker names won't reset your pool data, nor your stats. You won't lose your shares details, bestshare, bestever etc..
B) if I were to specify workers and somehow get (very) lucky w/a block, would I then be able to see which worker hit the block? (currently sending ~180T to pool, so.. y'all no doubt know what I mean by very lucky)
Yeap you will see the bestshare related to the said worker, for example if "worker.4" find a block, you will see a bestshare (on the dedicated line for worker.4) > at the current BTC difficulty ; so the deduction of which worker found the block will be easy.
C) if I temporarily add additional workers and then remove them (or go on and off with these worker for a few months), would that in some way impact the total data shown (ie would it reset my bestever, etc; again ideally I'd like to preserve this data on the pool)
Nope data will be ok. After some time (some days / weeks we don't know exactly) the dedicated line related to the removed worker will disappear, but the stats related to your BTC address will stay ok (I mean the global stats, total of shares, bestshares etc..). When it happens, you just need to sent some shares with the same worker, even after a while, and stats will be shown again.
D) in general, what are the advantages to specifying workers or not.
Tracking stats in a detailed way, and being sure every worker is ok as the total hashrate (cummulation of all workers) is fluctuating depeding of the last shares sent. Some superstition too.
E) with the most recent block hit on the pool, I noticed CK posted some info that looked like a log entry showing the user that hit. can the average user somehow look up their own logs or any other additional data beyond what is shown at solo.ckpool.org/users/walletaddress
Only what is shown on the url you mentioned, but ck is always sharing details after each block solved by the solockpool. If you are lucky, you will have to come and see here the details if you want them.
Thanks for any help and thoughts on this in advance. And best of luck to all on this forum! LFG!!
Happy hashing to you, you did a great choice with mining on solockpool!