Any doubts on the brake rod, grab the wife again,
have her watch the rod in the master. You should be able to move the brake pedal just under a 1/4" and the master cylinder shaft should start to move, any more than that then lenghten the rod.
Still convinced it's air though. Force filling from the bleeder works everytime. "Mighty Mite" makes a neet little kit for this. And you wont have to track down a nurse!
Bias valve should be just fine, as well as your front line-lock. But if you want to move or delete, your call, but not the bias valve .
DV