same issue. I actually get more time if it set the display time to 0. I'm guessing that at 0 it auto calculates based off of the amount of text. the tutorials messages stay up for a sec and they are all set to 0.
there is more then one combat state. 0, no combat. 1, combat. 2, searching with gun out. 3, not sure, i think nothing. 4, is 1 or 2. this could be messing you up, as gun out for the player is combat state 2 i think.