RE: Trouble getting motor to run
Do you have adjustable end points in your radio? I did a search for your radio but didn't think it had endpoints.
With my ESC, I need to setup the endpoints by (basically) turning everything on, and lowering my throttle end point until the ESC senses it (and always go an extra click down on the end point).
So yes, end points are important. Throttle curve should not matter.