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The paint in the first pic has bubbles in it. The second pic is not that great, so it's kind of hard to tell, but appears to have normal orange peel.

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/html/emoticons/lol.gif

My PC came with a counterweight for a 6" backing plate but came with a 5" backing plate http://www.s2ki.com/forums/html/emoticons/thinker.gif

The XMT 3 is not a heavy compound. I would at least start with the orange light cutting pad if not the yellow pad. What you don't get out with the orange or yellow pad with the XMT 3, you can hide...