You'll eventually learn, as everyone does, that 90% of your problems can be fixed by leveling your bed. Yes, again. I know you think you did it like 5 times already, but if you're having a problem with adhesion do it again. Also, if you're using tape on your bed, you'll want to use the glue stick. Yes, it seems like a half-assed primitive solution, because it is, but it can help a whole lot.

9% of the other 10% can, IMO, be solved (particularly what you're describing) by using a raft or skirt. The raft can be a pain to get off the print after you're done, so I try not to do them. But do a 2-4 layer skirt and you'll find that it helps a lot. A lot of the "why isn't it printing yet, is it retracting too far?" issues you're talking about will be helped because the skirt may look like crap because you haven't extruded enough yet, but the skirt is just there to be disposable anyway.