JediAmoeba

Zappu float boards.... https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Zappu_Floating_Board_20pk/descpage-ZFB.html
 
Also, lighter hooks

I big tackle backpack - even for bank trips I usually need 3 rods since 1 is always a swimbait setup for 2-6 oz baits.

Throw something the size of the baitfish. Underspins with keitechs, straight boot tails on a swim jig head. Flukes work wonders this time of year as well. You have a lot of options but it can be tough competing against the smorgasbord that now has less hiding spaces as the grass dies off.
 
 

Any of those I would throw on 50lb braid to a 16 lb leader. If I was bomb casting would step it up to a 20lb leader but I rarely do that.
 
Also, I would have some copoly or mono on hand in case you don't like the sink rate - depending on water temps line weights/types can play havoc on getting the action right.

Find the hole - if it is at one of the pieces of hardware you need to remove it, drill it out and fill with epoxy and redrill. If it is a crack, you are in trouble. The other option is to drill a decent size hole and fill it with spray foam and then seal the hole with epoxy.

That's a poor analogy - should we be allowing all athletes to take HgH? Steroids? Those are advances in medicine so it's all good, right? 
 
They don't allow live bait - there are restrictions to the sport but most of them seem to be rules that directly benefit the pockets of companies...

You will be OK fishing most of those, however the swaver 168s won't be too good - glides fish a lot better with some flex to the rod, a musky rod is, like you say, cumbersome and stiff. 
 
$200 will get you a fine swimbait rod - a good one is IROD Genesis is a great beginner swimbait rod, even the 6th Sense Milliken rod is a great strater rod for what you are looking to do.

Sometimes you don't need the washer. Also, don't tighten the screws all the way - dab some blue loctite on the threads so they don't move.