Based on an idea born in another thread, I decided to do some experiments in RSS (which I'm currently using as my career, with SMURFF - no RO) to look at TWR, drag losses, gravity losses, and ascent profiles.  I created a basic rocket with four Kickbacks, then simply thrust limited the Kickbacks to 50%, 75%, and finally 100%.  After an initial tip to the east, SmartASS would hold the craft on a surface prograde vector.  Once the navball switches to an orbital reference, SmartASS changes to hold