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I'm going to agree with all of what you've said but give you a suggestion.
Leave a little earlier to avoid the crowds on Epping road (or take a better route out avoiding the road completely), get to the fox in finchinfield and order 6 pints. Drink 4 while you watch the crowds pass and wait for me and MoN to turn up and drink the last two beers, we'll be a while as we need to stop for hydration before we get there. Then ride behind the crowds and enjoy the solace of riding at night. All the nobs in groups will bust their guts trying to beat the other nobs to the next Strava segment while you will be left with the drunks and carefree riders just drifting to the sea.
Ramsaye
Warning: moaning and whining.
Finally got round to riding Dunwich after hearing about it for so long. Good route and great weather for it, at least on the outward leg. But found it a bit too crowded for my liking. I guess we could have started a bit earlier to get ahead of the crowds but the initial section from London Fields to Epping was very trying. Along the Epping Forest road which I have ridden many times and is a pet hate of mine I thought about pulling out and going home.
Once we were on proper country roads the field seemed to thin out and the pace picked up.
Riders in groups seemed to stop suddenly without any indication. Also riding in a bunch which made it difficult to pass them (good thing I had a bell) and many with very poor lights. Some with the christmas tree type lights were fun to see but riders blaring music I could have done without. I'm out in the countryside in the middle of the night so I want to hear leaves rustling and birds chirping.
The food stops were way too jam packed. I generally don't like to stop for more than 15 minutes so we just tended to "bounce" these stops. We did stop at the Fox Inn though which was busy but didn't require queuing to get water and snacks.
We took a slightly different route for the return journey back to London which was quite a bit hillier but just about managed on a 69". Got thoroughly soaked after Needham Market and stopped at a MacDonalds in Sudbury. Noticed a couple of other riders sheltering there and soon the group of Elliptigo riders joined us too.
Coming from the audax world I did find it odd to be riding without a brevet card and no designated controls. But then that is the nature of the event. Worth trying out but not one I'll be riding again.