AutoVoice Autovoice and Google Now - a question

I have autovoice working well with "OK Google", but I have some questions.
The tasker task that is executed does an "flash" command as the first action when executed by the autovoice command.
- Autovoice set up to use Google now.

Setup #1
Enable = checked
Always Cancel OK Google unchecked
Alternative Method unchecked
Only Voice checked

When I save OK Google and then get the "beep" and then speak my command, the google search displays and my command will take some time to execute. As much as 1 minute, although a more typical time of 30 seconds usually is the wait time. This is the time before I see the flash command display.
If I say OK Google again, the wait time to execute the command is much less, usually 5-15 seconds.

Setup #2
Enable = checked
Always Cancel OK Google checked
Alternative Method unchecked
Only Voice checked

I say OK Google and I get the "beep" to say the command. Before I can say the command, I get the "double beep" canceling the OK google function. If I say OK Google again, I can say the command and the voice command is executed almost instantly (within a second).

So the questions are.... Is this behavior what I should expect?
Can I do something to say OK Google and then say the voice command and have it executed quickly without having to say OK google twice? And lastly, If I don't enable Google Now integration, what do I trigger the voice command?