Dont fret Jesse... The birds will be back.
Sometimes I think the sun helps a ton. Especially when its really cold. Early in the season it seems like bright sun is a curse though.
I've never used armorall on the dekes. Not sure I'd want them to be really shiny. I don't think real birds shine a whole lot, other than maybe their speculums or a bit on their heads, so I wouldn't get crazy with creating extra shine.
My buddies and I Texas rig all of our decoys. It is a bit harder on the paint, but IMO it's well worth it. They are so much easier to pick up and transport... Plus the cords never get tangled.