I'll try to stay civil with answering this post, first, the modulation issue. Is 100% not wide open? Maybe not ivy league terminology but same church just a different pew. Anything over 100% and it's distorted etc etc blah blah blah. As far as what class of license I had it was a Tech no code. I'm man enough to admit the dots and dashes confused the hell out of me. Hope that that answers your questions
I am not a C.B expert or even can tell you anything about the different crap inside for modulation, or modifications. I own and run General Lee and Superstar 158 radios. I had them looked at when first bought, and had some mods done for better transmission, and reception. I have had no issues with either brand in all the years i have had them. I understand General Lee and several other brands of 10 meter radios have been discontinued. I bought a stryker radio shortly after they came out, and had issues due to lack of parts, and qualified tech's to make repairs.