Newbie-- Mask yankoff problem

I am a newbie since 11/19/10. I took my mask off nearly every night. My average is only 4.5 hr/night but I think it is now going to go up. I have found two things that are critical for me, humidity and pressure support. I nearly always pull off my mask because I cannot breath. I take it off and turn off my sleep machine, thinking I will put it back on soon but just to breath for now... Then I wake up sleep deprived because no mask really means no real sleep. So, I deduced three things.

(1) A little humidity helps with not having a sore throat the next morning but too much has me taking my mask off. I don't know why excess humidity has that effect but I'll sleep in passive mode if necessary and take the dry throat the next morning rather than another night without sleep. Anyway, my first response to shortness of breath is to reach over and drop the humidifier heating level. For me dry airway is clear airway.

(2) Its cheating I know, but having an ASV, if I open my mouth and breath that way for a few breaths the ASV gets concerned and ups the pressure support. I've finally realized I can get it where I want it at that moment and fall back asleep; without taking off my mask.

(3) I'd rather spend an apparently sleepless night on the ASV then a night without it. This darned machine learns where you should be at a particular time of night. So, if you go to bed late, it helps to rinse and repeat (2).

I am recently managing 6+ hours per night using these three.