I would say forget any LSTing, FIMing, or any of the other more advanced techniques that are used for higher yields. Like you said yourself, you don't care that your yield is going to be less than perfect, so there is no reason to use any of the aforementioned growing strategies (which are all aimed at increasing yield). If you want to experiment, go ahead, but just keep in mind if you screw up again, its back to square 1. Whatever you do, I would say you probably want to leave the apical (top) growing tip alone for sure. Experimenting is a lot safer on side growing tips...

And on the nutes - MG plant spikes *are* nutes. They aren't "nutes" in the sense that they aren't specifically formulated hydro nutes, but in the end the bottom line is nutes = ferts = plant spikes. Thats not bad though, because you have to have *something* feeding them. If plant spikes work for you, go for it . Word of caution, however - solid spikes can very easily cause burns since they are unpredictable and you can't control their release as nearly as well as nutes in a diluent (water) which are applied periodically... Good Luck!