So, given the recommendations around here and others I've found, the list of steps I've taken from scratch to usable are:

1- Flashing the firmware and the eMMC with the latest release.
2- Flashing Kernel Plus.
3- SSH (for god sake, it's hell to type on the N9 terminal compared to N900)
4- Using Opptimizer to OC at 1150Mhz
5- Installing FasterN9 unstable.
6- Developer mode tools (Utilities, power analysis and performance)
7- Various hacks recommended by pmeuh
8- Emoji fix and comprehensive hosts file.
9- N9QT (for stuff)

I've yet to solve some problems and there are things I'd like to do (BackupMenu!!), but I like the state in which all these left my phone. Thanks people