Glad you got it working, interesting if the slicer itself was the problem.. When you're loading a file to the printer on my elegoo I'll be able to check the actual layer settings which is ultimately the key since that's how long the lcd will light up and cure the resin.
However supports and rafts are heavily influenced by the slicer so any issues there could be resolved by the slicer software.
Otherwise your hygiene cleaning all sounds like good practice regardless both to remove variables and maintenance.
Glad you got it sorted
Back in my day, and to this day, Microsoft offers such huge discounts in academia on licensing, and recruit so many students from university, I never saw anything but MS.
I'm glad we are at least in an age that there's alternative to Microsoft in the free and open source space for individuals even when school goes down their path.