I've also settled on 3 neat turns on the peg, a tug or two on each string as I get it close to its first tuning, re-tune once the strings have been in place a few minutes. Sometimes a final tuning is needed, sometimes not for all the strings.

As for only the player hearing the difference, very true for older audiences who hear fewer high frequencies and those with no understanding of the instrument. I should think it less true for younger audiences and those who can tell what a dead-stringed thumper sounds like.

Now that I think about it more though, the value of newer strings also depends what music is being played; I can think of 2 songs I've sung that go nicely with a thumpier sound, Sin to Tell a Lie and Sunny Side of the Street. On the other hand I'd be disappointed if, say, Bruce Cockburn played a concert or recorded an album on old (or new) thumpy strings since I find his music usually takes advantage of the broader resonance in newer strings.