Those are sounding great, Greg. They have a liveliness that merges musically, a sound that pleases my ear. My take is that the sound, even if it gets lost in the mix with guitars where you're sitting, will project and make a more musical mix than the more controlled sound you were working with. Even if it gets obliterated by the guitars, so what?
Coated heads would be an excellent choice, I think. But what you have now sounds like a drum kit!
I don't hear the problem you mention with the 16. It is very full and resonant, but I don't hear it being activated except when you play the 16, and that is when I'd want it to ring.