Its a common practice for them to pay the first couple months then stop and enjoy the free ride for 3 months as I struggle to get the money then evict.

Whereas your rentals will be riding the inflation wave and should help keep your income up in the future.  

So if you want to put yourself in a strong position, set aside the money in a checking account to make sure you can ride out any storm.

{When I was 12 years old, I was riding with my Grandfather in his car, and along side of the road was a large bill board that said "Highest and Best Use".I asked him what that meant, and he explained it to me. 

I say take a ride through to see it for yourself.

Move #2- (hail mary from my attorney) to just put on my STR landlord hat and go ahead and fill the rest of the rooms up to the max and start collecting some rent. 

I am just trying to say this REI thing is a rollercoaster ride it goes high and then low, really fast, the trick is to get on the ride and not fall off.  

Whatever happens, it's been one hell of a ride so far!

At that point I was just sad for the guy as he had clearly been taken for a ride by a guru.

You're undermining yourself.Also, you can blame this on the realtor but you went on this ride.