RE: Hinge
Most people don't have the problems you are referring to with ca hinges although you are not alone, some people have. One thing to check is that the control surface hinges are perfectly level and in line. If one ore two are not perfectly horizontal to the others, you get a tearing action everytime the surface moves (if that makes sense).
I fly mostly jets, and I use robart hinges on them. I am never satsified until I can pull my control surface with all my might and it stays. If it pulls out under full load of me pulling, it's not a good install (FWIW).