Another thing is that I've found that the slower I fall asleep, the more lucid my following dreams tend to be.

Seriously pursue the study and practice of relaxation, both physical and mental. It is worth it. Falling asleep in a reasonable amount of time after a WBTB is pretty important for LDing. You don't want to miss out on the juicy later morning REMs. Meditation is one way to practice relaxation. It helps you tame your unruly mind which is the primary cause of insomnia.