>1. I thought once servitors were bound they didn't give you
>exp penalties.

That's not consistent with my experience playing a conjurer.

>2. The success rate of dismissal is terrible. Just thought
>I'd remind you. (900 mana in dismissals = nothing)

How much mana did you put into the demon?

I'm going to assume the answer is "more than 900", in which case probably only the dismissal with 600 mana had any kind of realistic chance of success in this case.