I go straight from the prep polish to the coating as that is what it is made for.
As for beading being weak, agreeing with an above statement about it being anybody's guess, there are many, many variables.
I know that pollen and that fine mist tree sap that's going around this time of year and parking under or even near trees can hinder beading properties.
DP coating is rather cumbersome to apply if you've never used a coating before. It flashes fast and especially if you are used to using traditional sealants and waxes, it will seem like you're not wiping anything after about two wipes.
The trick with DP coating is lighting. After you spray one spray, you must start working it rather quickly and immediately. You'll need to put your head down at an angle and look into an overhead light source reflection in your paint to see the light "film" or thin "swipe" marks that follow your applicator. It is hard to explain but you may know what I mean.
Since DP has so many potential applications in the bottle, if you really think something is messed up, use a light abrasive polish to remove it, use the prep polish and then go straight to the coating. For a mid sized sedan hood, about 5 sprays should get the job done.