I have also learned that the "cloth density" is not uniform - it's meaning depends on the tesselation.

Despite the fact that the hex triangles and the quads are similar in number, the outcome is very different, as if the hex mesh is heavier. By halving the cloth density with hex tris here, I restore some of the overall shape of the results. I get back the higher ridge, which looks to my eye more natural and real. But I have absolutely none of those broken-back crystal forms.

---

Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)