Auxiliary air valve still?

I've been struggling with a cold idle issue for some time now, it was that it runs for a few minutes, then revs drop off and it won't idle by itself until it was a bit warm then it would idle very happily.
Tried cleaning WUR, made no odds. Tested AAV, which opens in the freezer but not loads (don't know how far they should open) and it closes with test leads on it. So I gave it a clean and left it in Brake cleaner for a day or so.
So I refitted the AAV along with new inlet manifold gasket, injectors and injector lines and it ran awful for a bit spluttering and missing etc. Then subsequent cold starts it wouldn't fire on the first few times then be spluttering again anyway went straight through mot, then had a bad fuel leak I got around to servicing the car and fixing the fuel leak properly.
New plugs have helped the cold start as in its firing first time and not missing (I need new dizzy cap rotor and leads as they are very old) but it stinks of fuel when it's first started and runs probably around 900 rpm and will briefly drop a bit after it's revved, but as it gets warmer the idle gradually rises to around 1200 rpm after a 9 mile drive to/from work.
I'm a bit confused as to why it would do it (not difficult) but squeezing AAV hose cold revs drop and they don't when warm suggests it works, to some degree at least.
Any ideas? Thanks.