This LOB seems pretty good and I imagine the guides are good.
I just went diving in Cozumel. I love the slow drift diving there. I'm totally fine with that. It's just the way people describe Komodo sometimes, it sounds more like a "rip your face off" type of current, rather than a slow, easy drift like Cozumel. So, if it's "Cozumel type" currents, then I'm good.
I'm thinking of diving a day trip from Bali before the liveaboard. I'll have the time. I'll definitely think hard about Nusa/Crystal. I wouldn't mind seeing the Mola Mola, but not if I risk running into the down currents.
There is a story I haven't told here yet. I have only been on one other liveaboard, 11 years ago. It was South Siam Divers, in the Similan Islands, Thailand. I was brand new and never dove in the ocean before. I started diving with the group at first. I encountered cross currents and I had never encountered any current before. It was tough. I was in great shape then and worked out six days a week, but it was killing me fighting those currents. Beyond that, I consume more air than most even without current. So, I was always the first one to run low on air, and so the group went up with me, and everyone was getting mad at me. So, they stuck me with my own dive master, a Scottish guy. Once I told him that I was a new diver, he got mad and said that I shouldn't be on the boat. He said that they never should have allowed a new diver on the boat because those dives are some of the hardest around. No one told me before I got on the boat and I didn't know any better at the time to research it. And, they took my money just the same. But the positive was, I had my own private guide just him and me for the rest of my trip. And, we saw the Manta ray on my last dive with them, when the main group didn't. 11 years later, I hope to see one again.
I talked with Max, the main contact for Blue Manta. I explained my concerns to him. He is very nice. After talking with him, I think this experience will be heads and shoulders above my last one. It sounds like they'll take great care of me and will help me through any concerns or issues. He said I could try out a larger tank. And, he said the guides will work with me with tips, advice, and guidance. And, he said they could mix up the groups if needed. He also gave me a reference (at my request) for Bali, AquaMarine Diving. I'll look them up there and maybe I'll take the drift dive / night dive specialty courses, and a Mola Mola dive. Or, maybe I'll just chill and save the diving for the LOB.
What everyone has said here makes a lot of sense. Just listen to the dive master and I should be fine. And, I think his dive masters will be good and will guide me well. Thank you everyone for the advice and feedback. It really helps and I appreciate it.