Thanks, Alan/Purple. As you indicated, I have adjusted the trigger settings in the module in real time as it plays through AD2. That's how I discovered what controls are relevant and which don't make a difference. The individual trigger settings are one place that cross over to the VST, and in the "Kit" edit section, I've only found "midi Note" and Minimum Velocity" as editable features that affect AD2 processing. Bear in mind, I have the DM10 MKII Pro, so these functions were satisfactory at best in the module alone. I can't do the cool things the OG DM 10 or Strike module can do. But in the end, bypassing most of the Alesis ecosystem and working with AD2 is how I get my best results. I have a feeling I'll become a VST addict, and my next target is SSD5 if and when it's actually released independent of Mimic. I did like the EZ Drummer 2 demo, but AD2 seemed more well-rounded. I might look into SD2 once finances allow.
Of course, getting a module that can load a VST kit would be amazing for live applications, though I've only experienced one AD2 failure so far. For some reason, the "Audio/Midi" section reset and the sample rate defaulted to an empty selection. I just reselected my chosen sample rate and it came back online. It's one of those mysterious things that give you pause if stability and robust performance is required.
I'll play around with my hi hat settings to see if I can approximate a semi-open splash sound without using the footboard.
Thanks to all for the input!