Swapped out the thin rads for the thiccccc XE in the bottom and PE in the top, which made the tube runs nice and straight. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a vertical GPU mount that would fit the video card once I swapped out the waterblock and added the active backplate, so we're back to the horizontal mount. But again, straight pipes, and a drop of 30 degrees Celsius under load. Well worth it.
If anyone finds a vertical GPU mount that fits over top of the XE + pipes in the bottom of a 011D XL case, please let me know.
Swapping out the waterblock
Pressure testing
Refilled and bleeding air
Straighter runs