I mean it only got past the first layer

the first layer as in the heat wrap that comes on the springs?  If that's all that's damaged you're fine. nicks in the fiberglass are the only thing that actually matters.  If they're just scratches your ok, deep gouges could cause problems but since you got them on ebay you're stuck with what you got. So, i'd say use them anyway, in all likely hood you'll be fine.  Tape is more to protect the rubber, cause if you fall in a manner that would damage the fiberglass, tape prolly won't help much.

I agree with sprog
Rain probably won't do too much unless your out in it for a long time.  The main structure of the risers is aluminum so it doesn't rust, but the nuts and bolts are most likely steel and i doubt they're stainless so they'll rust. 
The trampoline is just a horrible idea.  not only would the risers rip through the trampoline, I doubt you'd beable to stand on one, cause the spring of the trampoline is much softer than the spring of the risers, it'd just be really wierd.  AND DANGEROUS so don't try it.
Asfor the pool, you'd prolly drown unless it's shallow or you're a really good swimmer, cause of the extra weight on your feet.  if you managed to get out, the bolt would prolly rust and that's not really safe, you'd have to replace them all.

This is fairly normal when they are brand new.  Everyone has a dominant leg just like they have a dominant hand.  It's just less ovbious cause we don't use are feet for very specific tasks like our hands.  when you start jumping on one foot, you jump more on one foot than the other.  Just remember when you jump on one foot, jump on the other just as many times.  and since you have one stiffer thant the other, jump on the stiffer one a few more time, they'll even out.  As both springs get softer you'll notice the diference between them less and less.  So don't put too much effort into evening them out.

I'd guess we'd be Bockers, but our sport is so obscure that the general public doesn't even know we exist, nevermind what to call us.  Therefore we're ovbiously just too cool for school.

Welcome to the site.

I don't think supershoes are avaiable for retail right now.  You might beable to get them direct from china.

i have 3, some people use less some use more. but 3 does the job

It doesn't affect the spring at all.  think of it like this, you can stand on the spring, it'll hold you up,  if you stood on some tape suspended between two points, it woudn't hold you up.  Therefore, the spring is much stronger than tape.  Theoreically if you wrapped so many times that you had like an inch of tape around the spring, then you'd prolly feel a difference, but even then not a very big one.  You'd just look like you had gigantic springs.

I was back on my stilts today after a 2 week break due to the heat, its finally cooling off.  Landed two new spin tricks.  I did a 360 with a giant leap, see the picture sequence above with another 180 after the split.  And i did a 540 spin.  i had to do a 180 on the jump before to get my momentum going but once i figured that out the 540 was easy.

Bocking in snow sounds like a very bad idea....I might have to try it sometime.  but when winter rolls around i'll hang up the stilts, and break out the snowboard.  And with the heat wave that's been hitting the eastern US lately, winter can't come soon enough.  Its too hot to bock, even at night.  As for rain, i just wait it out, play computer games and such.

you put lube at the pivot where the spring meets the foot and the bar coming from the bottom of your foot. I used wd40, others use sillicon or graphite. 

Looks like they send you a PoweriZer brand work out towel.

as for pads, it looks like you already have some.  If you want better than that you'll prolly have to drop a good bit of cash.  but a little secret for good kneepads. check out hardware stores for roofers kneepads, back in my rollerblading days i got a great pair for like 10 bucks.  These days i'm using hight quality bmx knee pads from sixsixone.com, but when my friends use my risers I give them the roofer pads they work great. check out sports store websites if you want new pads or just google like skateboarding pads, you'll find plunty.

Welcome to the fourm.

Running and jumping would be the next steps after learning, but take it slow, they'll take a week or so to properly break in the springs.

I'd check out your local sporting goods store for pads, sports authority, dick's sporting goods, etc. you can always check places like walmart, but I've found they generally only have kids stuff.

What cloth came with them. Some come with extra straps to tie your knees in better. Post a pic of it if you can.

the knock off versions are more popular, because they are marketed to the general public, and priced appropriately. PowerSkips are marketed to professional preformers.  As we are not professional preformers every one here except sweebounce and hemoves, both professional preformers, have some version of Powerisers, PoweriZers, or Flyjumpers, and unless you're planning to become a preformer, get Powerisers, and even if you think you might become a preformer.  Get powerisers first to make sure you're into it, then if you find yourself wanting to take it further, step up the the pro versions.

Powerskips are made with much better materials and last much longer. They are made for professional preformers.  I'm sure the increased quality is worth the price.  All the other companies that make them have to pay royalties to the original inventor if they want to sell their product where he holds patents.

that's not it i can tell you that.  Poweriser is based in Korea.  The company is called Hitech & C Co., Ltd, you can find their info on a number of import sites.

Snowboard bindings are definately the way to go.  Most snowboard shops should have extra parts lying around that they'll sell cheap, if not look at the STRAPS!!! thread and you can buy some from dominion.

as for the velocities check out this thread from the bottom of page 2 on it's skrankesvin and I working on them.  He's now gone through several designs, i haven't finished mine, not sure if i will, i discovered a new mod that I really like while i was building them. If you want to see that check out the New Knee Mod thread