SUCCESS!!

so, by disabling the maximize feature of windowed mode IN GAME, and forcing the smaller PiP region "on top" via keyclone, i can now minimize/restore the PiP via the taskbar, or alt+tab. so, it appears i get to have my cake and eat it too after all! :thumbsup:

it should be noted that i get some pretty serious video errors if im not careful:
-if i use the "switch region" hotkeys while 1 of the regions is minimized, wow starts getting bad video errors, eventually crashes and freezes my comp.
-if i restore a window via the taskbar, and not alt+tab, most of the time, i get full screen video errors from the top coordinates of the restored PiP window down. alt+tab window selection seems to negate this problem. and minimizing via taskbar seems to have no affect.
-and, ive had a few unexplained video errors while dealing with PiP in general. ive read elsewhere that this feature has been finicky for others, so im going to assume its just not 100% rock-solid, and should just be grateful it exists at all.
-it doesnt seem to load the way ive defined 100% of the time. sometimes upon loading the PiP window will get stuck in the background, or the switch region hotkeys dont work. it does seem to load the way i want 100% of the time upon reload tho. so, thats a problem ill live with.

again, thanks for your help guys.