Thank you @SusanY1 and @AmeliesUncle - that resolves the apparent conflict.
However I am unable to figure out to do a combination of FEIE and FTC, as my choices end up giving me a ZERO foreign tax credit. I think that this is new encompassed in the OP's question, so I will start a new question at the following. I would appreciate your thoughts there as well, if possible.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/combination-foreign-earned-incom...
