X-Force XT-400 2x4 (6 Pill) Pill Driver

[psycho]

is it true if you up the voltage to 18v better drop that DEADKEY and SWING substantially on the transmitting radio or those transistors will pop?

The only reason to run 18+ volts is to try and key over someone, not for normal talking. Even 16 volts shortens the transistor's life considerably. People that continually run that kind of voltage have made Toshiba shareholders quite happy.
Swing doesn't win keydown contests, balls to the wall dead key watts does.
At $35 a pill it pays to baby your amps.