The last factor is even more important than for visual observing. Initially new observers see few meteors, but if they have a little patience, the rate increases steadily with experience and as they become attuned to the higher angular speeds. Yes those fleeting flashes really are meteors. Rates are more uniform because at telescopic magnitudes most meteors are sporadic, even during the peak of the Perseids. Many of the familiar major showers are similarly deficient in faint meteors.
Showers giving twice or more times the sporadic rate are rare.
You must be able to concentrate for 20 to 30 minutes at a time looking for meteors without strain. If you have a pain in the neck or back, cold extremities etc. I cannot stress too highly the importance of observer comfort. In addition to the normal visual equipment you'll need a clip board for the charts and report sheet. In the simple case where we want to follow a known shower, we select a pair of charts, preferably above the radiant, in a configuration like in this schematic.