On point 9, "The certificate is just gonna expire if I don’t use it.", check out the "recertification by examination" tab of https://www.nremt.org/EMT/Recertification.
I personally find it easier to pass a mildly annoying test every couple years than to track CE hours, so that's how I recertify.
I personally find it easier to pass a mildly annoying test every couple years than to track CE hours, so that's how I recertify.