I mean your only making beer in your starter for all intent and purpose. It may be un hopped beer. But the volume of said starter shouldnt effect the over all flavor in a noticable manor.
Yea I would flip the EKG and the Perle. And add some more DME to get it a higher og. If you are doing it as a mini mash you could add a lb of flaked barley or a lb of oats wich would help with body and head retention while boosting the og a bit. If you like thinner beers you could add 2 lbs of...
Vinegar is one of the best things to clean copper. Make sure you soak it in water and run water through the lines after a vinegar soak. You dont want to add that flavor to your beer.
You are on the right track as far as useing a wheat beer for a fast turn around time. Alot of hefes are drunk in what would normally be a green stage. But as far as christmas it would be hard. You could probably do new years if you brewed today.
No you are in the right place to get it figured out. We just need more specifics. Did the show give you any idea as to what kind of nutrients were in the beer? Also instead of an ida could it have been an IPA? And if you make your own ber you can put anything you want in it. That my friend is...