Drama, too long, didn't read, lol.
The red gem is not out of your way at all and is almost completely easy to do! Don't hit the ! box yet, but follow a minute wumpa trail down onto an iron platform (once you stand on the NITRO ! Platform, run to the right and you'll land on it if you're not sure). Continue moving to the right, timing over the security disks to collect the red gem! Then just use a bit more skill to backtrack back, climb the spring boxes back to ground.
Looks very good... I did however notice a few things: In general: Jumping up into boxes slows you down... are you sure there is no other method to get past those areas? Like sliding... Ice levels in general: Have you checked if you keep your speed from the ice if you jump on the same frame that you land like in Crash Bandicoot 2 on PSX? Flying levels in general: You should edit out any missed shots, missed shots tend to look sloppy. You should be able to edit them out using a hex editor. Space levels in general: You can stand on the edges of the platforms when they are vertical for a short period of time. (This works in the E version at least) In Dingodile: Can't you hit him sooner if you stay closer to his shield when it goes down? I see that you are not as close as possible, in the first hit you're almost half a centimeter away. N-Gin: It looked like you could have caused more damage to him when he was going in circles than you actually did.
I have made a short WIP of the first level (and some of level 2) of "The huge adventure", maybe it can be of use. I abuse the movements physics to maximize my average speed. It improves the first level of the latest submission by 330 frames if I'm not mistaken. http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1120770398/0345%20-%20Crash%20Bandicoot%20-%20The%20Huge%20Adventure%20%28U%29%28Independent%29.vbm As always with my WIPs I'm not at all sure I will continue it, but hopefully it will come in handy for someone else.
