I am experimenting with the MK 3, and so far, it hasn't shown any problems with my monsters losing lifespan. If it works out, I'll post it up within a few weeks (I wanna give it the full run-through, first).
My first method was effective for the starting person, what with the minimum number of objects, and the maximum gains for it. However, the one I'm working with, while more item-intensive, is still both simple and easy to remember.
First stage: LD/LD/LD/rest, ?/ML/NO/ML The MK 3 method brings the HD into the mix, even at this early age. However, I have yet to discern if this is going to cause lifespan hits, or if it does a lot for the stat-gain. I have a feeling that the LD might be the lesser of two evils, but time shall tell. While the items keep the stress levels down, they aren't _as_ neccessary at the moment. I mostly use them to keep the 'rhythm' going.
Second stage-Third Stage: HD/LD/HD/rest, ?/ML/NO/ML This keeps the monster from getting stressed, while losing a minimum of lifespan, from what I can gather (I haven't done the full math on it, yet).
Errantries: I never send the monster on more than four errantries, if I'm trying to get him to HoF status. Otherwise, I send them every cheap errantry, so as to both save money and gather moves for later breeding. I do it on the first of the month (as I was convinced through the numbers I was getting), and ML/rest immediately afterwards. NO and LD, then ML/LD, and a final rest. Then, back into the normal pattern.
That, in a nutshell, is how the newest of my methods work. The suezo I put up was trained using that method, and you can see how well it works for things like lifespan (yes, I did use both peaches, but didn't use a banana at all) and stats (no maxxing out, but it gets the numbers where you need 'em)
My wracky is presently being raised with the MK 3 method. I'll post up how well it works.
Update on the style MK 3: I killed off a Suezi Suezo to get a Wracky, and started raising it in HD/LD/HD almost from the very first day of its life (I gave it around four months to stop failing so much before I started) He is now my second HoF'er in my new game. His stats: Lif: 671 Pow: 324 Int: 999 Ski: 404 Spd: 999 Def: 582 Total: 3979 (and with enough time to break 4000, easily) Age: 10y (and three weeks)
He went through his first growth at 3y 6m. He didn't Prime until over 7 years old. He was peached twice, and is not yet showing any lowering in numbers (and has been doing S-class fights for several years, now)
Needless to say, the adjustment on my raising style doesn't seem to have lowered the lifespan any. It works best on things where you only have one or two stats that you're looking for (in this case: speed and intelligence), but it could be used to round a creature out, as well.
Please note: they will not be getting _too_ good of numbers, when you start them at this young. However, they'll be getting 3-5 in _two_ things, rather than just the one. And with the ML the style uses, the stress never seems to get high enough (even as a baby) to hurt their lifestyle overmuch.