First of all, instead of asking you to complete time-to-exhaustion tests, we build your speed/power profiling chart using rolling averages. This is achieved by taking your previous 6 weeks of training and then computing the mean maximum values of different rolling averages, let’s say from a few seconds to an hour.
Yes, it records the second by second Workout Reserve data, as well as summary data into the fit file. You will need to be an Athletica subscriber to use as it needs your workout reserve profile, calculated from your history on the servers. But the actual output of real time workout reserve can be seen in any platform that can read Garmin activity FIT files
The cost of the Athletica.ai is not that expensive; at least in my opinion. I haven’t tried it yet, so can’t confirm the details, but from what I’ve read, it’s reasonably priced.
You certainly have different goals than I do. When I look at the content of Intervals and the (voluntary) price for it, there are serious differences. I’m 67 and a data freak, but not at any price. That was also the reason why I no longer use TrainingPeaks. The desktop software runs WKO5 (which was also very expensive). If I were still racing… but as a pensioner you have to be careful what you spend your money on