I was reading over the DDP options on the Disney website, and while reading over the info, I noticed that for the deluxe, premium, and platinum plans, it shows the appetizer is still included -- is it an oversight, or was the appetizer only removed from the basic plan?

Tips are not included in any of the plans, right? Or is that just with the basic plan as well?

There seems to be a ton more offered with the higher priced plans, but I am not sure if we'd use all of the elements included. I wonder if it is it possible to use most of (if not all) of the components and still hit the rides. I am sort of considering whether it would be worth it to do make 2 separate ressies back to back, one with a higher plan for the unlimited tours, etc, and then a room-only for the rest of our stay, so we'd have a couple days to just do things included that we normally wouldn't do, then for the rest of the stay just do our usual wandering around/riding the rides. I wonder too though if it would be better (and more economical) to just make our usual ressie, and add a couple of things a la carte .... ah, too many options :/

I'm not sure why your doing the dining plan would prohibit doing the rides. It's all a matter of good time usage. Hit the parks at opening and ride like crazy with little or no waits, then back off when the crowds arrive. I almost always do a table service dinner, and plan on doing a few of the big crowd eater attractions just before and just after dinner. But I try to get those long line rides like Space Mountain or Splash way early, before the crowds hit.

And I think you're right about the plan - the appetizer is out for only the basic plan, and you now have to pay the gratuity out of pocket for all plans. I can't imagine eating enough to justify any of the deluxe plans - the basic plan almost did me in!