hi all, thanks for all the suggestions.
Happy to own a nice 'professional, made in china' fuel pressure gauge set.. doesnt look that bad actually, for the price..
Anyway.. whether I crank/no start or it starts, the pressure in the rail is steady 58 psi..

never stutters at speed, feels like it has full power.. so makes sense that fuel pressure is OK, but now I know for sure..
what next? ideas? TIA