Doesn't sound wacky, it sounds very educated. Far more so than I am, I'm afraid.
Don't own a scope, don't know how to use one, don't know what I'm looking at even if I did. I'm a heck of a TV mechanic, but as a technician I leave a lot to be desired
But that would have no effect on the AGC anyway, would it? Obviously the issue's still gonna be there, but I can't get enough gain to really get much on the screen as it is.