Color shouldn't matter much unless they are burned, I take my coils apart and dry burn them with the flavor wicks out of the coil and get alot if uses out of them.
Or just stop caring about people looking at you. I prefer to deploy the bird while i take a vape when people stare at me. Maybe not a great recommendation for you, but it works well for me.
You don't need the long tube at all unless you intend to stack. The short tube fits an 18650 just fine, even button top. I bought the long tube separate, because I thought I would like the longer grip, but I don't stack, and it does wobble.