RE: TWO separate engine problems
Yup, the heating trick is merely to check to see if there is a problem ( which there does not seem to be, ) and if you'll be able to start it this way.
As mentioned DO NOT keep doing this.
Instead you now know what to do the first time you try to start up the engine.
Once you have it running let it run as it comes out of the box, for a while.
It may not run at high rpm's... just get it running and let it sit rich as it comes for a few minutes.
Then start the normal break in process.
After you've run the engine for 30+ minutes you'll find that it gets a lot easier to turn over.