Yo, inventor of the "recommended" ZeroLink here. Wasabi 1.0 was using ZeroLink and 2.0 uses WabiSabi, which you may consider ZeroLink 2.0
I'm not sure what to say here, very many things you've said is incorrect, but I believe you've done your research, it's just you've got caught up with the wrong sources. Mind you, there's a well funded anti wasabi propaganda arm of the scamourai sect that is especially designed to co-opt the Monero community, making them useful idiots in parroting their nonsense and mislead you and the likes so no wonder you're confused.
It greatly saddens me when I see posts like this, I wish it'd be different :/