Just wanted to post some updates - mostly positive!

First, I found out that my insurance covers the procedure.  I did not attempt to get pre-authorization or anything like that.  I simply submitted a claim form along with the doctor's bill, and they reimbursed me no questions asked.  I did have to pay an out-of-network specialist copay of $70 per treatment, which I found perfectly reasonable.

Second, I recently had a follow-up round of treatments with the same doctor to clean up some remaining debris.  It's still nowhere near perfect.  I have a few dark specks here and there, as well as some larger blobs in the periphery that the doctor said he had trouble delivering the laser energy to.

However, it's definitely a substantial improvement over my original state, and overall I'd say I'm only a little worse off than how I was pre-PVD.  (As I mentioned in my original post, I did have some floaters even before PVD.)

From my experience I'll say that laser absolutely does work -- to some extent.  If you expect perfect results, however, you will likely be disappointed.

As for me, a future FOV is still not entirely off the table.  My remaining floaters are still annoying, and I would love to have perfectly clear vision.  But laser has helped enough to where I'm not quite as willing to take on the risks of an FOV.