Nosed_b18b,
I'm sure that someone with more experience with the rotary will chime in, but here is my take.
I've been using the rotary, but do not have the years of experience under my belt.
Since your vehicle is black, the holograms (or buffer swirls) will be more evident than in light colored cars, especially if you stop at
DACP. Take heart, you can remove them.
When i did my car, black too, with DACP/Meg's polishing pad/rotary, the holograms where on the entire car when i brought it out under the sun. What i did next was to use DACP/LC polishing pad/PC. Brought it back out under the sun and voila...perfect finish.
So, with my above recipe, i guess you'll have to shell out for a PC.
I'm sure with more practice with the rotary, holograms will become less of an issue as you become more proficient with the tool. Always remember to step down the aggressive scale of the pad and product combo.
As to your pad size question. The smaller pads will offer better control. That i can attest to. I have the 6.5" and 8.0" pads and i like using the smaller pads. In the long run, i guess whether you use the 6.5" or 8.0" pads will be a matter of personal preference.
I hope this helps.
Let us know how it turns out. Post some pictures when you're done.
Jun