RE: Batteries running-in and swollen batteries
I install the connectors I want, charge, and go fly.
I do three things that seem to work for me:
Buy proven cells
Rarely discharge beyond 75%
Charge at 1C
I stop using a pack when it starts performing poorly. I have never had a pack puff or stop balancing properly. This includes when I was racing boats where I had a 10S2P 10,000mAh (5s-5,000x4) set up that I ran down to 75% inside of 2 minutes. In fact, those packs are 5 years old now and I still use them for practice.
Of course, with the cost of lipos these days I almost look at them as disposable compared to just a few years ago when you had to mortgage the house to buy a couple of them.