[old_tv_nut]

I aligned mine with the procedure you summarized - horizontal disabled and B+ loaded with a hefty power resistor.

I don't know the full reasons for doing this, if doing it with everything running actually makes a difference in the results or just causes a lot of interference in the scope, etc.

One warning: I found the length of the leads on the IF signal injection point was very touchy when aligning the IF.

Do you have the Deluxe or Super chassis?

The Super (which I have) is touchy for sound and sound traps alignment, as there is only one 4.5 MHz sound IF stage, and if you get all the traps set precisely to 4.5 Mhz, you may get the sound dropping out at the nominal fine-tuning point, and need to detune one of the traps slightly. If you have the Super chassis, this could be contributing to your current problem of sound and picture not both being optimum at some point in the fine tuning adjustment.