I play a simpler game, but it's still roughly the same game,...

I play a simpler game, but it's still roughly the same game, when I am trying for free-carry. Simply cull when over-bought and acquire when over sold.
I have my signals, however it takes time, patience and good stock selection..

Seed capital stocks are the introduction to this technique, a good number fail to mature, but I rationalise out the weaker one's when balancing out a capital gain while trading. I abhor paying CGT.

With my free carry stocks, when achieved, I bed them down and just collect the franked dividends, but only sell a portion in rarely special circumstances.
I already free carry BRN but in sometime over the coming decade when they finally come good I'll sell another portion before bedding them down.
Most of them have the big boys involved who loan out to shorters so the SP can fluctuate wildly. In the long run that's water off the ducks back.

I played with equity options in the 1980's mainly with CRA who are now Rio Tinto. Far too many sleepless nights. Not prepared to go through that again.

Good luck, but it's horses for courses.