partial throttle always creates more heat/inefficiency than full throttle. The esc's like to be run full throttle. Same as in full scale electric vehicles, you try to keep the cars in 1st gear so they are full throttle at cruising speed for best results. They are most efficient at high RPM, which makes them less efficient at lower RPM...less efficient = heat.

nah no shorts (well..i am sure there was some shorting eventually). It was quite a fire show, had the body glowing white till it was unplugged.