If the EM does not fix the problem there is an option in most slicer (I think) to raise the nozzle during retraction (know as Z hop) I have not really tried it but that may be helpful if the EM is spot on. I would guess that doing this will have it own set of pros and cons one of which is adding to ...

I would be inclined to check for inconstancy in starting height due to sag of the gantry..
Here is one of the threads on the subject viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3844&hilit=gantry

Is your M2 in an Closure? Kind of need to be for ABS to not warp but it still does. One think I have found for small parts is to use a brim rather than a raft.. don't really do many larger parts in abs but then ones I have did not warp but I have an enclosure The glass with polymide tape works great...

I sometime even stop and let is sit for 30 seconds.. let the cleaning plastic melt and blend with what is still in there .. then finish the extrude..

I have the printer profile in octoprint set to 100 mm per Minute for the extruder.. Pain when you are retracting something as it takes a while . :D I did that more so it would not strip out when extruded.. When printing miniatures with a .25 nozzle after a couple of days of printing small and slow, ...

I switch back and forth between PLA, PETG, EPA (Nylon) and ABS all the time. Never had a clog.. I use Esun Cleaning filament before each change and every so often even when staying with one material. You extrude it SLOW at the temp of the filament you are no longer using. Any time I change a nozzle ...

Sorry for the cat humor, hair balls between the toes at 2am are common where I live..
To be honest, I would be a little more inclined to diagnose and fix the free falling platform.
With mine powered off, I can not manually force the platform to move, granted it is only 8 months old.

The lack of metric hardware in the US sucks! I am dealing with it right now trying to source what I need LOCALLY to build a prosthetic arm for a child. All though school "we" were taught the metric system and it was cake, no freaking fraction to deal with!! But NO, the old farts that run the USA ref...

This is the response from the manufacture: Hello, Ninjaflex does not typically absorb water from the atmosphere. We have 90% of our stock sitting in the open air and see no issues when printing. Thanks! Technical Sales Support Specialist NinjaTek | A division of Fenner Drives 311 West Stiegel Street...

Good resource on Ninjaflex https://ninjatek.com/resources/