[eluser]TheFuzzy0ne[/eluser]
Although you've taken the time to clearly type out your problem, I have trouble reading text, so I'm getting lost. I'm going to just ask you a few questions just to clarify my understanding of the problem, and which I hope might help resolve the issue. I apologise if I ask anything that causes you to repeat what you've already mentioned.
1) Where is your "advanced" button/link?
2) Assuming your page is at yoursite.com/admin/settings, can your advanced button not simply reload the page and point to yoursite.com/admin/settings/advanced.
3) Can you not serve up a hybrid view, which contains all of the options (normal and advanced), but by default, advanced options are hidden with CSS, and made visible when you click the advanced button? You could also dynamically insert a hidden form field so your server will know if the advanced form is being submitted?
4) Am I even close here, or am I way off?
