UPDATE:
i basically got it (somehow) back to normal: It starts within 1-2 crankshaft revolutions.
All i did different was to take the idle tubes out, blow them out with compressed air and ran a wire thru them. Also, blew the area below the idle tubes (idle wells?) out.
i'm not 100% convinced this solved the problem because i did not see dirt or debris come out.
Nevertheless, the cold no start/hard start seems to be solved?
i was previously afraid to take the tubes out because i had never done it before. But i followed the directions in the book and they came out rather easy.