This is what I did. I more or less started over.

 

-Disabled Fixer libraries, no need to uninstall Fixer app.

-Deleted Shader HLSL library in the root with a default replacement that Paul posted awhile back

-Set fsx.cfg to pretty much default....except for BP=0, AF=14, FTFF=120 (tested before and this is all critical on my system in dx9 and dx10)

-Restored REX textures to default, and closed out of REX for now

-Re-installed/RE-enabled Fixer libraries

-Re-enabled switch to DX10 with 4x and 4xSSGS in NI (NI config is the same Jaroen's which he posted before)

-In game, I kept all my Scenery sliders max except Scenery Density to Dense and Water to High2x

-Disabled any traffic programs, AI in game, and used clear skies default weather

-Tested initially in an area I am very familiar with default 172, then introduced weather (I first noticed my cloud performance issues seemed to have vanished, and water animations were present in all there glory) :o

-Exited FSX, and re-enabled all REX textures except water textures and water animation. (1024 res), 32bit water, dxt5 clouds.

-Tested again, and all looked good even with Bloom and Self Shadows enabled.

-Exited again, enabled REX water textures and tested. Looking good.

 

The key is to work slowly in steps.

 

I am now getting 40 locked in  areas that were dipping into the low 20's before. I have yet to test at higher LOD and TML settings and have not tested with resource intensive AI traffic and addons. Also am currently still using default wave animation since I like the white caps! Still a work in progress but getting there!

 

