What tripped me up the most was when I was on the incorrect path, both left or right ways resulted in the same 2off stepcount so I figured it didn't matter which way I went. well it does when you get on the right path. Such a subtle but complex trick to save 2 moves.
Currently going through all the PP1 hard/master levels and so far this one was the one that gave me the most trouble so far! I went from 10 off to completing it after finally finding the save that for some reason was unseeable for me until it finally wasn't. I should have known in hindsight, but just didn't want to accept it I suppose.
(10 years ago) 52 tries for me, here. Took me looong to find the right path, and then, of course, the last 2 steps. :D
EDIT 2023, 17th July: In re-beat process I played it right after Save me and it felt quite simmilar, but not all the same. Still took me 10 tries to get to 2 off and 3 more to get 179. :))