Regarding installation, I wish the power cable exited the back of the camera, or could be routed through the base (either through a notch in the circular mount that leaves the cable exposed but would stay within the footprint of the mount, or through a hollow connector that'd go through the base and into the wall behind for greater security), rather than exiting from the bottom of the camera

Home security + unreliable do not go together and is a deal breaker

Best possible security

If they can't do that, it's not really an effective security system, is it?