Hi Leon
First I like to say thanks sharing your wisdom and experience.
I like the "i_mute"and the "n_mute" .
I play with the "mute" so there is alert but no trigger of sms or email to the noc.
So I made new alert with the name "alert me when a node goes down (mute)"
n_mute is equal to YES
Node is down
Trigger is just post in "event log-active alert"
like it because it's not hide the alert from the noc.
Is that something you try working/play with?
/SJA