I 'carved' a cork into the same shape without those ridges and have been using it for the last couple of years. The simplest, cheapest solution for the Dynavap/Wand combo. Works really well.
Do you think your list are design shortcomings or were done purposely as to stablish 2 different products? -after all The Wand was not initially intended for Dynavaps..
I looked into mine and I can also see a bit of blue cable behind the glass, not as much as your but it is there. I have been using my wand for a couple of yrs now and no issues of melting cables...
If this happened to me, my first contact would be with the manufacturers, they designed and built the IH.
They even have an email address for service queries in the product page. Just sayin.
The Wand is not at it's best when using the glass cup for vaping herb. It can be done but there are many other options out there that do it much better -the Arizer family with their glass stems to mention one. The Wand shines when used as a IH for DV.
The Wand only 'heats' when the light blinks and the Dynavap is inside (yellow orange blink), otherwise it blinks red for few seconds and then stops; no 'heat' is produced if you dont insert the Dynavap.
I use to have a plug-in and a portable IHs, after few months the plug-in had zero use. I end up giving the wired one to a friend and I am happy with the portable one and fast charging power bank -you can vape whilst charging or just a 5min charge will see you through. When 'fishing' I always...
You get better results with the SS tip.
I have been using the Wand for over a yr now, I tried it with both my TT & SS tips. Now I only use SS with my IHs.
IMO Dynavap works better -overall- with SS rather than TT.