I do similar. I use the 1ml low dead space syringe as well and use an 18g to draw. Then I twist that off and switch to a 30g x 1/2" needle to shoot SQ. Loads fast and I never feel a thing. Injects a tad slow but thats the price you pay.
If you read the cited studies the first one (32) is saying the low adherence was with T-Gel patients and those on short-term TR therapy, which is a 6 month cycle according to the NCBI. The second citation (33) is based on topical gel TRT users most likely dropping due to its ineffectiveness...