hybrid mask questions

On cpap now for 6 months. Doing great thanks to you kind folks. Just got a hybrid mask today from the VA. I watched the video and tried it out. It cam preassembled with a large mouthpiece and medium pillows (both of which work). I have several questions.

1. The swivel coupler won't come off. The instructions say to remove it for cleaning but it appears on there for good. Is it permanently attached now?

2. I feel like I'm not exhaling enough air when I exhale. With my Optilife, I could feel the difference in pressure on my hand but with this mask I feel the mouthpiece move but feel little exhaled air. Is this normal?

As with anything new, I approach this with some apprehension. I have been doing great with the nasal pillows but they sent this mask because I am mouth taping. Apparently that's a no no. The tech didn't say anything just that he would send me a chin strap (never received) and a hybrid mask. I would like to stop the mouth taping since it's probably not medically a sound thing to do, but I want to make sure that I'm going to be able to breathe with this thing. Any comments from hybrid users would be appreciated.

I got the coupler off. I think it was pushed on by someone who didn't know their strength. Is there an up or down on the coupler?

I've never seen an up and down on it. It is a little long though and it goes on there pretty tight. I don't remove it to clean the mask.