IMO, if you're just vaping during the time your stopwatch is keeping track (and not smoking then)...you at least aren't having any cigarettes during that time. So that's a good thing. Maybe gradually try to let your stopwatch go to a longer time...before you have a smoke. Doing that you will decrease your smoking and increase your vaping.
I have no experience with a pod system and 50mg nic. However, I personally can't even imagine vaping eliquid that strong. I'd most likely get "nic sick" from it. Sorry I can't advise you about it.
I cannot advise you what will be the best way for you, because I'm not you and your body isn't mine. All I can tell you is that for me...I'd tried cutting down 1 cigarette less each day in the past, and it didn't work for me. I personally needed more time to reduce my smoking, while I was increasing my vaping and enjoying it more as I went along week by week. As I was going through those weeks, I did for sure notice that the busier I kept myself...the less I even thought about having a smoke. IMO, you'll need to base how you do it on how you feel physically, how you mentally deal with cutting down the smokes, and what you find to do to stay busy so you don't think about having one.
It can be "a thing" for you, because it's already helping you go 1 hour before a cigarette, when before you'd have 1 every 20 minutes. So really...it's already helping you cut down on how many you are smoking!
See what I wrote in the last part of my answer to #1...about gradually making that time longer. Maybe that would work as well. Stretch it out to 1 hour 30 minutes for a few days, and see how you do. If all goes well...then try 2 hours, to see how you do, etc., etc.
Thank You , For all the answers