You put a lot of effort into this post. Much appreciated. I also liked the movie very much but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece and far from his best work. Pulp Fiction is far and away a better movie and is always listed among the best movies ever made.
I really didn't notice most of the things you mentioned and when I do rewatch it, I will definitely look for them.
It's funny, when I did watch this movie, I thought to myself, WOW a Tarantino movie with any blood. I hadn't gotten to the ending when I was thinking that. Foolish me.