heh, ya I tend to rather open things up and attempt to fix myself rather than buying a new one (especially after having bought 3 =P). It's been an interesting experience, pretty much figuring out how the mechanics of the thing work. I found it most surprising how the valve works.
I believe it to actually be a metal disc that must expand when heated to halt the flow of gas. It is flat on one side, ribbed on the other. It sits ontop of this plastic short cylinder that (if I remember correctly) is also ribbed on the side facing the disc. When it expands, these ribs must fit together, blocking airflow. When they cool down, gaps in the ribbing form, allowing gas to flow again.
I may be completely wrong here, but I've taken every single piece apart (even the pieces where it seems it cant be taken apart) and thats the only mechanism I can think of that can regulate gas flow. Though there is another cylinder that holds a spring in place just below that plastic cylinder and I have no idea what that's there for.
On the original problem, I know my chances of finding an answer are slim to none. There probably aren't too many out there willing to open a $200+ piece of equipment just to figure out how it works lol. Thanks for the quick responses though.
and when I explained my Iolite he proceeded to tell me that it stank of weed, and to watch out if the police walked by!!! Outdoors! I had thought I was safe 
I paid attention after that, and I think it's just the smell that comes from a conduction style vape- a baked weed smell. It only occurs with a fresh bowl though, and dissipates after the first couple of minutes. It's not as significant as my mate was claiming IMO- smells like baked weed, rather than burnt, and not really enough to need to worry about cops walking by. But there's no doubt in my mind that he smelt it and obviously smelt it strongly enough to comment. I've kind of noticed similar with my Solo occasionally when the stem first goes in, but notr as pronounced as I have smelled with the IO. I wondered if the long thin Iolite mouthpiece acts more like a chimney somehow and draws a tiny bit of airflow enough to release the scent a little bit more? I dunno.
