With a proven track record maybe the investor will loosen up on terms or do multiple investments concurrently with you.Until you have enough investable capital accumulated, it will be a challenge controlling the terms of any investor or lender.If the deal you have in your sights is phenomenal (like it could appraise for way over your purchase price), you may have luck finding a HML to fund acquisition + rehab but the terms will likely be ridiculous.

Maybe some scrooges like me will loosen up a bit

If credit loosens up further, that upside could be significant.

Every month the financing requirements are loosening up. 8k-10k credits for 1st time home buyers, changing the way credit scores are calculated, 100% ltv in home equity lines of credit.  

I think it is a matter of time before you see continued loosening of investment property financing.

Financing for your buyers isn't that difficult now as lending on manufactured homes with land are loosening up lately.

As far as the wholesaling question, I too felt a lot like @Mark McClure in regards to taking advantage of people, but I have started to loosen up my thoughts in relation to the service they provide.  

Finding a good deal is the name of the game but obviously there is a cyclical component to the market with the tightening and loosening of regulations to consider.

The specifics of adding additional units vary WILDLY across cities, towns, and counties.This strategy (buying and further developing with additional units) has been my specialty since 2011 - I've learned more about the complexities than I ever expected or wanted to, even with the loosened ordinances we have in place here now. 

I've also heard of people recommending using a heat gun to heat up the metal and help loosen it (the theory being that the slight expanding/contracting of the metal will help loosen it up).