I just read Search for Knowledge, and am planning a more comprehensive comment to that, and provide some more direct answers to your questions here.

I agree, idealism is simpler. I used to believe in Berkeley's idealism and kinda still do. My focus then moved to science. I wanted to learn more about science, and its answers connected more with the world around me. Not that science is right, it's just more consistent with my other knowledge.

I also dislike talking about "representation." Scientifically, it's correct. But I think it's philosophically wrong to see the world we see is an illusion. Illusion and representation implies there is something else, but what else is there? It's an empty notion.

What is my test of the best explanation? There is nothing in my experience that signals one explanation is better than another. I "try on" different explanations, and none of them illuminate anything for me. So the result of my testing is there is no "best" explanation -- they're tied.