For “regular” lease option deals, where I’m assuming investors put 20% down, does the investor intend to collect an option consideration that covers his original down payment?

I once owned a grocery store.

It may not make sense to purchase a coin operated machine as they are soo much pricier than regular machines.

Go back to trulia for that property and look for option where you can see restaurants and stores. 

I’ll be reminding myself of these on a regular basis!

Instead of putting a huge down payment on a property that in some cases will not cash flow as a regular rental, then it's better to start with arbitrage, and then decide between more arbitrage or buying HOUSES now that he has experience.

I assure you no agent is going to take you on with off markets if you wont show your loyalty to them working on the regular inventory also. 

I regularly receive text, emails and paper mail, even people knocking on my door from my "utility company" and it's a dead ringer for their letterhead sometimes even, but fake nonetheless.And to be clear is it for sewer lateral (waste line) replacement or the incoming service line of clean water to your rental?

The additional income is for the tenant that would prefer to rent the Garage as well to park in or store their belongings or both.

Lots of new construction and new stores being built.