The improved starting, better throttle response, and lack of popping in the exhaust is a normal result of a better tuned carb. Take a long screwdriver bit and turn the pilot screw 1/6 turn one way or the other and see if further improvement is possible. Turn it a bit at a time in until you notice degraded performance, then count the 1/8 turns out until you go past perfection to degraded perdormance, then set the screw half way between too far in and too far out. That is a good course adjustment. There is a
sticky on carb tuning at the top of this forum that lists the characteristics of a mal-adjusted carb, one list for too lean (in) and one list for too out (rich). Make small adjustments according to how the bike rides until there are no more symptoms. That is how I tune my own bikes.
Note that no two bikes, even identical models, necessarily will perform best with the exact same settings. Altitude, humidity, air temperature, engine temperature, fuel, condition of air filter, and a bazillion other variables influence the fuel mixture. As you noticed, a simple adjustment can have a major influence on engine performance. As influencing factors change, an aware rider can notice the affect on performance and make adjustments based on the butt dyno readings. With a few basic mods (allen head screws) it is easy to develop a tuning kit to carry on the bike and fevelop procedures that allow changes to be made in minutes at a gas or pee stop on a ride, with the improved performance contributing to greater riding pleasure.
Generally, I take a different approach to tuning for a ride. I really don't like wrenching on the road or trail--bad things tend to happen, like breaking the c-clip on the needle or tearing an o-ring, or dropping a screw in gravel, or something equally troublesome. With experience, a little research into environmental factors allows tuning changes to be made before a ride. I do this when I'm camped at, say, 6000 feet altitude and will be spending most of the day on mountain passes at 11,000 to 12,500 feet altitude. Sure, the bike runs a little lean early in the morning and late in the afternoon leaving and returning to camp, but it doesn't matter because the air is cool so the bike won't over-heat. However, with the bike properly tuned for high altitudes, I enjoy the maximum performance of which the engine is capable for the biggest part of the ride.
As you've discovered, tuning a carb isn't rocket science. It just takes a well-thought plan and patience.