So after using the Rockets in the office today, I realise my mistakes.
1) the stock ear tips are these weird mushy stuff that "crumples", deform and stick to any bit of skin to disallow me my deep insertion from last night
2) when deep insertion was achieved through some fiddling, the occlusion effect is very very real and painful in a short time
3) thus the stock tips are designed for sitting the body just outside the canal and my other mistake
4) the tri tabs is NOT useless...
The ear tips have to go. It would be either the sony hybrids or the RHA tips, I think.