diff --git a/interface/src/ui/overlays/ModelOverlay.cpp b/interface/src/ui/overlays/ModelOverlay.cpp
index c8056c11c8..875352ebb4 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/overlays/ModelOverlay.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/overlays/ModelOverlay.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ void ModelOverlay::update(float deltatime) {
 
     if (!_texturesLoaded && _model->getGeometry() && _model->getGeometry()->areTexturesLoaded()) {
         _texturesLoaded = true;
+        if (!_modelTextures.isEmpty()) {
+            _model->setTextures(_modelTextures);
+        }
         _model->updateRenderItems();
     }
 }
@@ -229,8 +232,7 @@ void ModelOverlay::setProperties(const QVariantMap& properties) {
     if (texturesValue.isValid() && texturesValue.canConvert(QVariant::Map)) {
         _texturesLoaded = false;
         QVariantMap textureMap = texturesValue.toMap();
-        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(_model.get(), "setTextures", Qt::AutoConnection,
-                                  Q_ARG(const QVariantMap&, textureMap));
+        _modelTextures = textureMap;
     }
 
     auto groupCulledValue = properties["isGroupCulled"];
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
index 7cfb1f6bc8..9bf6c31784 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.cpp
@@ -1074,15 +1074,11 @@ int Model::getLastFreeJointIndex(int jointIndex) const {
 
 void Model::setTextures(const QVariantMap& textures) {
     if (isLoaded()) {
-        _needsUpdateTextures = true;
+        _pendingTextures.clear();
         _needsFixupInScene = true;
         _renderGeometry->setTextures(textures);
     } else {
-        // FIXME(Huffman): Disconnect previously connected lambdas so we don't set textures multiple
-        // after the geometry has finished loading.
-        connect(&_renderWatcher, &GeometryResourceWatcher::finished, this, [this, textures]() {
-            _renderGeometry->setTextures(textures);
-        });
+        _pendingTextures = textures;
     }
 }
 
@@ -1106,7 +1102,8 @@ void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url) {
     }
 
     _needsReload = true;
-    _needsUpdateTextures = true;
+    // One might be tempted to _pendingTextures.clear(), thinking that a new URL means an old texture doesn't apply.
+    // But sometimes, particularly when first setting the values, the texture might be set first. So let's not clear here.
     _visualGeometryRequestFailed = false;
     _needsFixupInScene = true;
     invalidCalculatedMeshBoxes();
@@ -1123,6 +1120,8 @@ void Model::setURL(const QUrl& url) {
 void Model::loadURLFinished(bool success) {
     if (!success) {
         _visualGeometryRequestFailed = true;
+    } else if (!_pendingTextures.empty()) {
+        setTextures(_pendingTextures);
     }
     emit setURLFinished(success);
 }
diff --git a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
index 4180288106..67e6d178ea 100644
--- a/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
+++ b/libraries/render-utils/src/Model.h
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ protected:
     bool _needsFixupInScene { true }; // needs to be removed/re-added to scene
     bool _needsReload { true };
     bool _needsUpdateClusterMatrices { true };
-    mutable bool _needsUpdateTextures { true };
+    QVariantMap _pendingTextures { };
 
     friend class ModelMeshPartPayload;
     Rig _rig;
diff --git a/scripts/system/pal.js b/scripts/system/pal.js
index 41774629e7..7175685b4f 100644
--- a/scripts/system/pal.js
+++ b/scripts/system/pal.js
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ var HOVER_TEXTURES = {
 var UNSELECTED_COLOR = { red: 0x1F, green: 0xC6, blue: 0xA6};
 var SELECTED_COLOR = {red: 0xF3, green: 0x91, blue: 0x29};
 var HOVER_COLOR = {red: 0xD0, green: 0xD0, blue: 0xD0}; // almost white for now
-var conserveResources = true;
 
 Script.include("/~/system/libraries/controllers.js");
 
@@ -431,7 +430,7 @@ function addAvatarNode(id) {
         alpha: 0.8,
         color: color(selected, false, 0.0),
         ignoreRayIntersection: false
-    }, selected, !conserveResources);
+    }, selected, true);
 }
 // Each open/refresh will capture a stable set of avatarsOfInterest, within the specified filter.
 var avatarsOfInterest = {};
@@ -496,7 +495,6 @@ function populateNearbyUserList(selectData, oldAudioData) {
         print('PAL data:', JSON.stringify(avatarPalDatum));
     });
     getConnectionData(false, location.domainID); // Even admins don't get relationship data in requestUsernameFromID (which is still needed for admin status, which comes from domain).
-    conserveResources = Object.keys(avatarsOfInterest).length > 20;
     sendToQml({ method: 'nearbyUsers', params: data });
     if (selectData) {
         selectData[2] = true;
@@ -719,7 +717,7 @@ function onTabletScreenChanged(type, url) {
         ContextOverlay.enabled = false;
         Users.requestsDomainListData = true;
 
-        audioTimer = createAudioInterval(conserveResources ? AUDIO_LEVEL_CONSERVED_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS : AUDIO_LEVEL_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS);
+        audioTimer = createAudioInterval(AUDIO_LEVEL_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS);
 
         tablet.tabletShownChanged.connect(tabletVisibilityChanged);
         Script.update.connect(updateOverlays);
@@ -874,7 +872,6 @@ startup();
 var isWired = false;
 var audioTimer;
 var AUDIO_LEVEL_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 100; // 10hz for now (change this and change the AVERAGING_RATIO too)
-var AUDIO_LEVEL_CONSERVED_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 300;
 function off() {
     if (isWired) {
         Script.update.disconnect(updateOverlays);