May want to get some dirt on them shoes mate. It's a requirement (not neccesarily the best point we added to the centurion program, but it stands right now) to not have stark-white boots.
I love your armour btw! You got some quality gear. But you already know that.
I use this method on my 2mm TM. I never "unhook" them though, for me I use the elastic for what it is, elastic. So I just slide my foot inside and let the elastic do it's thing.
I used to have a pair of wayfarers. I miss them so much! I lost them in a cinema. Must get new ones, but buying all these props keep preventing me from it.
Ideally you paint the inside before you start trimming and assembling the helmet. You don't really need to paint it though. And put the pads in last once you have all the rest done.
I have never had a balaclava, and I don't like how it feel wearing one either. It's too constraining. A few times (out of hundreds of kids) kids have seen that there's a human inside my helmet, but not that often. Too me it's not worth the trouble.