The problem that was concerning just mysteriously appeared today, then just as mysteriously disappeared after making that post.
So I don't really trust it right now. And I will be damned if I go on this cruise with a chance of my car saying "Screw you, I'm gonna drain your battery completely when you try to start me." If it doesn't do it again, I'll consider it good. Once is admissible, twice makes it a problem. I'll clean my battery terminals for good luck, though.
New PS pump is in, system needs to be bled more because it's still making a racket, but it works and doesn't leak (beyond the first start when I forgot to install the stem o-rings
).