[lopushok]

So you're advising a) not mixing phasing and classic exit, Not strictly, but not to (for example) try an exit when you're already going into a landscape, because that just puts you in your body again. It's ok to see what works (mixing both) but careful not to get yourself back in if you're out, and when you get sucked in you are already out, now the trick is to not lose your lucidity.

and b) performing loosening before the hypnogogic state? Perform loosening before the exit, but yes, I think so. In fact, I'd go as far as saying, perform loosening before hypnagogics, and combine listening with looking at the screens before actually trying for an exit.
It's probably better to try when it seems it's 'too late' than too early, because when you try too early you get burnt out.