Thanks for the kind words fellas!
As for the back of the bow - it is just under the bark/cambium layer I did not decrown. I did not decide to add sinew until after I shot it for a while and it began taking a little set. I put in just a tiny amount of reflex when I added the sinew and after a few hundred shots it stays nice and straight.
The knots were not too bad on the back - pretty small - I shot it for a while without backing.
Kip - that it funny! If we had audio you could sing that phrase on here!