WA3: Okay, I started a file like two years ago, got to Ka Doingle, quit. (I had found the game rather dull at that point, fights were long and unimpressive.)
Reloaded it up, beat the boss fight (man, Janus is a pretty decent dueler), then went to the Secret Garden/Decaying Labyrinth.
I'd like to say at this point that I actually -enjoyed- that section. Pretty challenging, medium-low risk of screwover, tough as nails boss that requires you to use the system... yeah. It made the game's options actually feel worthwhile. (I went at L15, suspect L25 or so is the "intended" level). The main issue was getting out without encountering a Rachel squadron, but my winning run I was a screen away before fighting them, and got insane lucky - all of them Decelerated first round.