I've heard it's better to plug everything on the pinion, and loop the small lines on the rack itself, after draining the fluid.

That's what I just did...but I have to wait for the car to be back together (with a turbo) before trying it out.

 

It's official, depowered rack is the shizznizzle. Its really not that hard to turn the wheel for me at all, but I do have pretty big arms and shoulders. Taking turns with it just feels like a whole different car. Much more like a go cart now It feels sorta like the wheel is pushing back at you when you turn, so the harder you push the more it turns. It is really an amazingly engaging feeling.