Varying from the beginners starting hand chart+ equity studies

Not sure if this discussion is of interest as most posters here are well advanced of my skill/experience, but the recent discussion about opening KJo UTG+1 8 handed got me reviewing the starting charts and a Hand equity spreadsheet I built.

I did post a correction to my recollection of my hand, the table was short at least one and possibly 2 players, making it 6 or 7 handed so I was more comfortable with that open. Honestly since it was 8/16 I was playing slightly tighter than I do at 4/8 and opening KJo there would be a question for me.

This is in reference to the starting hand chart posted in another area of the LHE section awhile back, I will not repost.

I assume as better players you all vary greatly from it based on table conditions, opponents, etc.

I am surprised by how ridiculously tight it seems. I know it is starting guide for LHE players but a 5% open from UTG 8 handed? 9% open from MP? 21% from LP? I am easily twice that percentage.

Am I overvaluing hands like Axs and KJs? In my 4/8 games(8 handed, usually short 1 for lobby/open seat) I will open UTG with Axs, AJo, KQo, 77, KJs most of the time. My equity seems solid with these, I understand I will not be happy if I get 3! but that happens so rarely in 4/8 I can define the V's hand range pretty well and play accordingly after the flop.

I remember someone talking about 'board coverage' and I understood that to mean, if I open UTG I want my open range to be able to hit any flop-i.e. if the flop is 235 it can hit a part of my range and it makes me harder to play against.

So I see the advantage(especially against better players than 4/8) of an open range in each position that gives the most flop coverage possible.

Do I need to play tighter than I think?