RE: When to start using Idle up?
Actually, you will likely need idleup before you go inverted. Hovering around indoors may not require it, but if you are outdoors doing bigger patterns, it is really helpful to have some negative pitch available for when you go a little too high. Coming down with full head speed keeps cyclic response at its maximum, rather then lowering head speed to descend, and having cyclic response dull down.
Vince