Removing the atomizer or running it cold is using the Sub against its design principles. Your experience seems to be the exact opposite of every report we have received from Sub owners. Maybe it is your strains, using a Sativa blend and expecting Indica results?
I have tried, The White, Norwegian Kush, Cheesequake, Bubblegum, Pineapple, Grand Daddy Purple, Harlequin, Raskals OG, and some Pre 98 Bubba. They all fall more towards the cerebral effects and less body then I am used to. I am very scensitive to any changes in the type of medicated state I am feeling. I try and treat pain, OCD and anxiety. This requires a very percice balance of cereberal and body feelings. When that is changed it throws everything off for me... even if you change it a little.
With my OCD and anxiety I like a little cerebral feeling, but only a little. The sedation and minor cerebral feeling helps me break patterns and not worry so much. When I start to increase that cerebral it exacerbates the issue. That is the major problem I tend to deal with... for example I can't use the Pinnacle because it does not get hot enough for my needs. So any minor increase in cerebral feeling I tend to notice much more.
Most people will be fine with whatever high they get off the device. Most people will be able fine tune to the Sublimator to get what they need. I suspect there will only be a handful of people who don't like the medical effect this device is giving. I have a friend in a very similar situation/needs and he was not impressed, on the other hand his wife enjoyed it more and the difference was not major enough to bother her.
I really am at a loss... I have tried pretty much every setting on the device and lots of different strains. I have not gone lower then 50% power on the dial... I figured it would just make things more cerebral. I can't get the relief I personally need when this device is used as intended. Personally, I look for a very specific type of effect when I medicate, and I just can't get it. Keep in mind most devices don't really work for me. There are probably two portables and three desktop units total that really work for my needs.
To give you insight... I tried the portable that MiVape that was supposed to come to market. I broke a rule which was I did not ask about the strain inside the unit. It was a Sativa strain, and to boot the device was running cool... so it was producing quite low temp vapor. Well I had about three puffs of almost invisible vapor. After about 10 minutes or so I was starting to freak out inside. I thought I was getting sick or something because I was feeling panicked and my heart was racing. I had a little panic attack inside... I went so far as to tell the people I was with that I think I am getting sick all of a sudden. Then I realized it was probably the vaporizer I just tried. That little bit was enough to make me uncomfortable. After about an hour I was back to normal and fine. Most people would have been fine from that... actually I think Stu even tried the device that day and was fine. For me though I guess I am just very sensitive to the changes I feel...
I also suffered a brain injury as a kid... who knows that could have something to do with the way I process my medicated state. I just know from a personal level it is not working for my needs, which is sad because I was hoping to find something durable that would allow me greater freedom to travel. I have not quite given up though. I am getting manageable results when I use just the bowl portion from cold.
So as you can see I am probably a very unique case. I imagine most people will enjoy the Sublimator.
Also, for those looking for a decent dimmer, this could be a good option:
http://www.amazon.com/Heath-SL-6008-WH-A-Wireless-Command-Control/dp/B000QDLN20/ref=sr_1_92?ie=UTF8&qid=1372101943&sr=8-92&keywords=dimmer+plug