I've thought about this quite a bit.

The first time I did DMT I did 100mg 50% changa, and the next 19 times after that too. Loved it. Freaking loved it.

Since then I edged down the DMT and upped the harmalas so I am doing 100mg 40% changa. Sometimes a little less in the bowl, but not much.

The only times I have done less, but enough to have visions, I could hear and sense the world around me and it was kinda scary. There was stuff happening, I was hallucinating noises and movements around me and I knew I was powerless. I didn't feel safe. I had to tell myself that whatever's happening I can't do anything right now anyway and just wait to see what has happened after I have achieved some sort of "normality". Sure enough there was nothing. But the hallucinations were very real. So real.

Then I read about other people doing 10-15mg doses. For me that's like a insta-mushroom trip. Pulsing colours, fractals and pretty patterns but not really the divine intervention that I associate with DMT.

It's occurred to me that maybe I take too much. Other people report taking much less than me and preferring that. Or am I just a fiend? I haven't read about many people preferring 40mg doses, mostly less.

I've been taking a break but thinking about doing it again a lot recently. I am unsure if I should just keep doing as I have always done or try and temper myself to the lower ranges.

Anyone else ever get this? That it's much easier to go higher?

There are no right or wrong here.. its just different lessons if you pay close attention.. thw lower dosages can be great for studying the more "down to earth" realm.. and the higher dosages is for "other" realms...

Ive used dosages up to 100mg with Harmalas.. and I also agree on that the smaller "vision/hearing distorting dosages" can be very challenging for the mind.. its probably easier with the higher dosages beacause there is no more mind the same.goes for Ayahuasca!

I qoute Mckenna: Do not diddle the dose!

Noise cancelling headphones are highly recommended!

I love this shit. I purposely open a window sometimes so I can hear people, cars and other shit going on around me. It's awesome.

I get that. I like to push the envelope.

I was hearing stuff that wasn't happening though. I guess suffering some guilt for not being present. Funny mind.

Not sure what you mean by not being present. All that IS is presence, awareness, consciousness. Nothing is actually happening though, ever. Things just appear to be happening in consciousness.
Relatively speaking though, just do what you feel is right. If it freaked you out there is no sense in forcing yourself to deal with it. imo

I don't hold quite the same existential views as you, but I get where you are coming from.