For your first issue, I'm not really sure what to do about that. I think it will improve over time as you put more attention towards dreams and increase dream recall.

What you experienced with the lights, twitching, and breathing stuff would be sleep paralysis. That means you're getting close, but transitioning from sleep paralysis to a dream is the hardest part in my opinion.

Since you've already had previous success with DILD I suggest you try that more or MILD. DILD/MILD techniques are typically much easier than WILD. I would think that it would be even easier since you have already experienced it before.

On a final note, you may want to read this tutorial. It will teach you a few different ways to increase your dream vividness from inside a dream after you become lucid.
Dream Stabilization and Clarity Tutorial - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views