Ive never done any illicit syntheses, but I have experience in academic o-chem labs, and Ive run NaBH4 reductions in methanol (I realize thats no sort of experience for kitchen chem, but Im not some raver highschool dropout). I have read the whole thing, and it says anhydrous IPA (and I know 91% IPA is easy to dry), but I was just curious about the urgency about the absense of water.
Ive also read your alternate reduction Barium, and I really like it. It seems a bit easier. Instead of adding the alkene solvated in THF (in a pressure equilized funnel), you add solid nitrostyrene (presumably through the top of the condenser). Was the H2 evolution Beaker talked about not a problem for you somehow? And why replace THF with ethyl acetate? Other than the fact that you like to avoid them. What does the ether (or pseudo ether) do at all? The reaction solvent is EtOH.
I realize I am inexperienced, and I really appreciate all the help. Im just trying to ask as many questions as possible before hand. Sorry for the late response btw.