All right. I think we got it; transmaps can make or break a hair regardless of lighting, render settings or shaders.

1. Look at those flyaway ends!

2.

3. 

4. 

So: in conclusion--whatever you do, take a look at the provided transmap and if after a testrender, it looks mushy like mine did, do ahead and adjust it. Older hairs tend to have, apparently, not only burned in highlights but unnecessarily bright transmaps that may muddle the render of fine ends.

@ghostship2: I sincerely thank you for going through this with me and showing me several things that will help me being better at this!