so, one thing I just added here was a 100k potentiometer as the resistor that goes across (parallel) the DIM leads. I've tested it all finally, and combining PWM and resistance based dimming definitely works together as you would expect. I measured the wall wattage, and its mostly linear as expected (except below 50% and efficiency drops per the data sheet). So I can use the pot to set the max amount of dimming, at like... 8V (80kOhm, 80%) and drive the PWM to ground like normal, and at 50% PWM duty cycle, I'll get the expected 40%. I've got the one amp driver, seems it can push these things to some intense thermals- so its nice to have a physical limit incase my software goes crazy
EDIT: heh, software has been working good far. If i have the thermals set to like 30*C, and I manually crank the potentiometer up, software ends up taking it back down to about where it was before.