i think your getting a good handle on it - I play the small stakes NL tables the same way - When you have big pairs, you still need to raise, but i try to limp in with lots of hands - In the SB I love to limp in with J,4 type of crap cause when it hits the flop i get paid off big from the tight player who can't let go of his TPTK - I also get paid off because players see me playing a ton of hands and think i'm full of it...Its a delicate balance though - The variance can be tougher...But what i like is i have no problem letting go of marginal spots, nor do i get married to hands -

overall though, i would try to add this type of game style if i were you...You can't just go to being a loose player when your not used to it - but if you know how to use it, it can be pretty powerful...and it's more fun -

I tend to offset my looseness with the table - like at a loose aggressive table you don't want to call raises with SC's or J,4 kinda crap - But there are plenty of tables where you see 4 - 5 people limping in...loose passive tables are the best for this style -

I have also spent plenty of money just learning the balance there....it is fun, but temper it with a solid game mostly - your thinking and trying different stuff seems to be good though - I think you have the right idea for beating those players...almost like playing loose/passive with them is good, especially when you can outplay them post-flop...