Replaced leaking, squealing water pump, and both idlers, and..the smaller stationary one was loose. Was having 5 knocks on cold start, sounded just like a lifter had bled down after parked a while. Well, that stopped after I did the above all at once. But...Could it be? There is more to the story. Will update soon.

 

Alrightie. So my start-up lifter knock was indeed not that at all but the stationary pulley bolt was loose. However, after fixing that and the leaky water pump, I still had a wicked chirp that sounded like a bearing. Spray water on the belt at the steering pump, and instantly it stopped. I am old school and not too experienced with serpentine belts, but now I am! Ordered a new one and yep, even though it looks good that was the problem. When I say it looks good, well not so much. When you put new and old side by side and look at the grooves, pretty easy to tell the old was way worn.
Nonetheless, viewed some Gates youtubes on how to check pulleys, belts, etc. They say flat out, if it stops squeaking when you spray water on (never anything but water..especially not belt dressing) it, then you have a pulley alignment problem., Period. Makes sense because the belt was only about 4 years old when I eliminated the AC and just put the shorter belt on. I checked and yes, the tensioner pulley was indeed cocked a bit. After much daddling around I loosened the bracket where it bolts to the block way underneath, and carefully used a bar to try to move it. At first didn't seem like it budged, but when I got it back together it was indeed a lot better but not perfect. Close enough, on with the new belt, and quiet as a mouse.
I checked on Ebay and sure enough, that bracket-to-block bolt hole is elongated, so it does adjust. I'll be revisiting this.
And no, sorry, cold piston slap is still there just like the last 50k miles. Oh well, another day.