Don't forget $query can provide faster iteration through globals, where appropriate.

Just as an example, an alternative with $piece.
An issue would be if both startStr and stopStr are the same value which $find does solve.

set values=""
for n=2:1:$length(text,startStr) {
    set check=$piece(text,startStr,n)
    if check[stopStr set values=values_" "_$piece(check,stopStr)
return $piece(values," ",2,*)

Great overview, I have had plenty of discussions with IT departments who don't understand that Linux, and Windows, will use available resources, especially for IO, and it is only an issue if it is persistent or unusual, and obviously if there are performance/stability issues.

Being able to provide metrics over time and proving it is "normal" usually helps.