1.98M, almost an extra

, that is so frustrating!
But the important thing is that you reached the 90's again. If you defeated Tuber in the past, your reflex and skills should come back after a few tries, it's just a matter of practice. So keep on trying, and you'll get soon your missing cloaks
Today I get back my

and looted my first cloak.

Consequently, I obtained another extra life, yeah!
You are lucky with the golded mushroom, I hope to get it one day. For now, I did not find any coef 6 item here, but it is not so surprising after only 41 games.
For the path choice between level 98 vs the mirror PD, I would say that it really depends on the player's personal feelings. I almost never go through level 98, I find the risks to loose a life quite higher, so I prefer to skip it through the mirror PD, but other people feel the opposite. So you probably know level 98 better than me.

But from what I understood, the back and forth technique you use is the optimal way to go through it.