Just a comment on your part 2c) TP:

c) particle size (ZENs has a volumetic mean of 18 microns which is basically ideal for battery use). So no need for sphericalization and potatoes. This a major point of misunderstanding I feel. Flake graphite needs to be large so that it can be ground to about 20 microns and then potato shaped. This process results in up to 70% loss. Albany graphite is already the right size and has low resistivity.

The reason flake graphite needs large or jumbo flake size is because this is the only way they can get their purity numbers up. So they have to start by only taking the large size flakes, which means they lose part of their deposit right away and then they have higher cost imputs by having to micronize them and sphericalize them. These processes lead to products that can be used in batteries but because of the high loss ratio, as you mentionned this increases their cost. The fact that the flakes have some damage ie not as crystaline after being processed, the performance is not as good as the ZEN graphite.

G.