The programmer didn't cost too much (I got a pickit3) and I'm sure I'll use it again but trying to wrap my head around how to get the software working is a whole other thing since I've never used anything like this before. Its all part of the fun of this hobby though, I'll figure it out.
So I decided to order myself a batch from jlcpcb. First one down, four more to go. Still need to order a PIC programmer since all the parts arrived quicker than I was expecting.
I was using another app before on my PC but I just tried it now on my Mac Classic II with TurboGopher and I can connect to gopher.system7today.com. If you can't connect to that hostname (and you definitely haven't mistyped the hostname) and you're getting a message about "fails to resolve the...
Not easily https://www.bigmessowires.com/2016/06/10/rom-hacking-tutorial-with-rom-inator-ii/
https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/custom-boot-chime-guide.47301/post-530998
The project that I linked provides the connection for a PicoATX to connect to the analog board. I've got one of these in my Mac SE/30 and there's no requirement to desolder anything on the analog board at all to make it all work.
Pending advice from some of the more knowledgeable people around here The Dead Mac Scrolls has a few suggestions for things to look at for no video output.
You should check out their troubleshooting guide https://bluescsi.com/docs/Troubleshooting
And if that doesn't help at the end of the troubleshooting guide they have links to their own support channels