Thank you for this, Samuel. I was (and am) massively struggling with the encounter adjustment/building rules, as the numbers of players I'm working with in different sessions are going to change. This is helpful.
I know the CR system was flawed and variable in effectiveness, but I found it a good enough guideline to start with, and easy enough to wing adjustments as needed--and much easier to memorize adjustments (like 2 creatures of same CR = CR+1). The new system creates SO MUCH MORE WORK, and even though I've been GMing for 15 years, I'm struggling with it a lot (your tables help, but still).
The XP budget thing is especially losing me. I was the kind of GM that never gave XP per encounter, just leveled folks at the right point in the story arc.
If this system remains exactly as it does in the final system, I will not GM Pathfinder 2e (I might play it, but I will not GM it. I will continue to GM playtests, but I have a feeling any encounter adjustments I do will be winged rather than using the rules--but at least these tables above make me more likely to try the XP budget thing again).