I hate the goo gone messed up your paint. I has used some trying to remove a dealer advertisement sticker off the back of my car and so far haven't noticed any issues, but, admittedly did not really look very carefully as I didn't expect any issues. I'll definitely check the area now just to be sure.
Regarding the Harbor Freight DA, I have one, have only used it once and very satisfied. I strongly advise against their pads and for unknown reasons I don't use their backing plate. After all those are the parts/pieces that could possibly ruin the paint finish.
I'm like you, I only have the evening hours to work on my car and hopefully it has cooled enough to do more than just wash it. I'm an old fart and after a simple washing (no tires/rims) I start feeling my aches and pains, but, I've GOT to get that DA polisher on my car but cannot figure out how to do it. When I wash my car in the evening it looks good, but, by the next morning the dew has formed and little buts and dust, grass, and other objects have attached themselves to my car. So, do you guys thing just a good rinsing and blow dry would be good enough to find a cover where I could either Iron-X or clay bar my car if I have only a short .75 mile drive and begin with the top, then the trunk, then the horizontal panels, and save the hood for last to enable the cool down. Would that dog hunt? Or would the fact it sat out all night preclude being able to do anything else to my car w/out washing it again? H E L P ! ! !