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I'm definitely missing something major here.

Have only solved about a quarter of the clues, and several just don't seem to fit.

I presume that the problem has to do with the preamble's 'ability that will be needed in order to enter some answers', but what this refers to I have no idea.

Hint, anyone?

I think your question contains the answer - some grid entries just don't fit - so figure out how to condense them so that they do.

I tried omitting two repeating letters in some answers which then made them fit in the grid. However not all of the long answers seemed to follow this rule......?

Every letter of every answer is entered into the grid.

So, does that mean that the numbers of brackets do NOT refer to the lengths of the answers?

** I mean, "the numbers in the brackets"

Numbers in brackets refer to the number of cells in the grid, which for thematically treated answers is not the same as the answer length.

Thanks Kilgore.

At least I have a fighting chance now

All done apart from one.
Just can't work out why 22 D is SCARERS ?

re = about
scar = "A bare rocky place on a mountainside or other steep slope"

so sca(re)rs , scare = "to make someone feel frightened or worried".