If those were my trees they'd carry some fruit. How many is the question. You seem pretty conservative about the number so I'd say go for it. I've found that if I thin to what seems about right and then take off every other fruit now I'm getting close. The fruit seems much thicker and heavier after it gets full size. And on a small tree it's as much about the weight as anything. The tree should easily support what's left at full size or it's too much.

The tree seems vigorous and mature enough to just thin to decent spacing. I would do it as soon as the apples have fattened out enough to know they are set- usually by 10 days after petal fall. I am going to thin my Goldrush trees today. Goldrush usually has a clear king in the center of the cluster once it is ready to thin and you can safely remove all other apples in the cluster if you protect the tree adequately- if you fear insect damage leave a couple apples per cluster. Remove all the apples from clusters where they are less than 4" from another one- this is what most assures a crop next year, IMO. Those empty spurs will produce fruit next year. Come back in 2 or 3 weeks and finish the job to one fruit every 6-8"- you will likely find more apples than there should be given how well you thought you thinned previously. The fruit elves are always sticking back fruit in the night. Not sure if they pick up discarded fruit from the ground or just use elf magic to make new ones appear out of thin air. Someone should do a study.

Ther pink membrane you speak of was probably waterproofing, which really isn't necessary. As for doing the brink, I would STRONGLY recommend using a WATER based sealer on it as you set it. Although everything you hear says solvent based sealers are better (and actually, they are), in this case you're better off with the waterbased for two reasons. First, you're only using it as a grout release. Doesn't matter if it wears off, so long as it doesn't let the grout suck into the surface until you get to it. Secondly, solvent based sealers are breathable, meaning they allow moisture to transmit back and forth, while a water based sealer will REPEL water.... and anything it's mixed with! What I'll normally do is have a pump up garden sprayer filled with sealer next to me as I set it, and as I complete each section, I'll pray it down-- I mean SATURATE it, intul it gets to the point where it's not soaking in any more. Now, overspray on previous areas WILL TURN WHITE-- but don't let that scare you-- it'll come off when you grout. Do this, and it'll almost be like grouting glazed tile. In this first pic, you'll see the white haze I'm talking about, every couple of feet, going from side to side of the hallway: This is grouted (except the steps, obviously):

Thin fabric.....is well.....thin fabric! It will definitely wear out very fast from abrasion or rubbing. Anything that touches it is producing some degree of friction, and wearing away the fibers. Do not use it! Think about a worn single fold binding on a quilt on the straight of grain. Now think about the entire back of your quilt after a while, that is made of thin, loosely woven fabric that you have punched holes in all over it--it will probably rip and fray pretty quickly. Don't even think about tugging on it :)