Happy to hear you got it working. As for living with it, depends on where the leak would be located. A tiny leak on the suction side and subsequent bubbles, but you have none, is no big deal. Where it becomes a problem is if the pump basket drains out when it's off and won't prime when you kick it on. Could it have been something as simple as a small piece of crud on the pump basket seal? Clean it and lube it with silicone grease available at pool stores. That stuff won't attack the gasket materiel. Also curious how far above the water level the pump is located. Some installations may actually take a minute or so before the pump is able to start pumping water.
Again, good show.
Al