Nah, I have to be honest I have never tried it with the filter paper in place before filling. I just find it easier to use the inverted method.
Either way I am sure makes damn fine coffee, I prefer inverted (maybe put it down to the climber side of me)

40 minutes seems like a hell of a long time, I think with a stir mine takes about 3-4 mins in total.

40 minutes is enough time to nip out to a bakery and back so you have pastries with your coffee.

inverted and metal disc (not metal mesh)

I have a stack of papers, but just use the metal disc at the moment. I havent tried a taste test between the two – the theory behind the metal disc I gather was that it doesnt absorb coffee oils, but it’s probably voodoo.

40 minutes is enough time to nip out to a bakery and back so you have pastries with your coffee

Or nip out and buy a cup of coffee. 🙂

give it a stir to Bloom

Stirring is so old hat, have you not read the Aeropress world championships recipes.

You need to give it a turbulent wiggle 😯

I used to know a girl with a turbulent wiggle; used to lead to fairly rapid blooming.

In 40 minutes I’d have drunk the first mug from the Aeropress and be on to making my second!
Looks like a nice shiny piece of kit though 🙂