Think i might take a break from deviating. Seems like its getting complicated, time consuming and expensive. Anybody else having to JS after spending our already small bank amounts?

If you think the prices are invalid, contact ALPA CE and give them specifics. If it doesn't seem right, there's a good chance it's not.

It's difficult to understand if you're talking about actual tickets purchased or Baseline/Established fare issues.
Keep in mind:
There are specific, contractual timing requirements for determining the Established fare that you can check based on the date/time listed on your pairing. Make sure yours aren't in violation of the CBA.

The actual ticket the company purchases has no effect on the Baseline/Established fare. i.e. if your Established fare is $2000 and they find a ticket for $1000, you still get the $2000 if you deviate or the extra $1000 for other expenses if you don't.

I've had my Established fare lowered after I flew the pairing to match a cheaper ticket they found for the scheduled DH. Had to input a discrepancy to get it raised back to the original amount. There are all kinds of "grabs" happening regarding DH tickets, fares on pairing, etc. The folks that control those things seem to be counting on lots of newbies that aren't going to know to question things. They make a change or attempt a new interpretation and see what they can get away with. Know the CBA and educate the new folks you fly with.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for using a hotel in lieu of deadhead when deviating? We have a tab on expense reports for pre-approvals>3days. Does this mean we can deviate, cancel a backend deadhead, and stay in the hotel using our dev bank? Having trouble finding a source document

It's for swapping the banks on a backend DH and a frontend DH SAME CITY for paid hotel and perdiem up to 3 days. If more than 3 you have to get a pre-approval. Look at Section 8.C.3.d.

Ex: B/E DH Seattle Saturday and F/E DH Seattle Monday. Don't want to commute home and prefer to just stay in SEA. Give up the 2 banks for the hotel and per diem. Kind of like turning it into a weekend layover.

Thank you!