Octane IPA kit from Midwest. Did an APA last week with s-05, goign swimmingly, but that was only 1.046 OG. Kit has been at my house for a week. Lord knows how long they had it, they seem reputable, so I wouldn't imagine it's really old stock.
Generally those packets are good for a beer up to 1.05 / 5 gal. SO two makes sense to me, but i've under pitched straight in my nievity and it always worked out so suit yourself.
I'm surprised it says to direct pitch, maybe that's why they recommend using two! Direct pitching can kill up to %50 your viability, so yeah I'd definitely rehydrate it.
One is fine. Try it, you will find out soon enough! I have done maybe 1.34 billion 1.070+ beers with a single sachet of S-04, also 05 and (my preference) Nottingham.
I'm out of town this weekend (leaving tomorrow AM at 5, so this will be my first time using a blowoff rather than airlock as well. Figured the wife wouldn't love it if we came home Sunday night to a freshly painted ceiling. Def rehydrated the yeast prior to pitching so hopefully that prevents underpitching.
Tonight was a bit of an adventure. Through a bag with 2 oz of hops in before dissolving in the LME, so then had to dump that in and try and get it back up to boiling temp ASAP. As a result my hops where probably in the kettle for about 1:15 rather than an hour.
Live and learn. Next time if I purposelly decide to do a late addition I'll forgo the hop bag for the sake stirring.