zlacker

1) yes solar panels should be cooled, but this is feasible with thermal radiation (yes it takes surface area)

2) pointing the panels straight at the sun for a sun-synchronous orbit is not exactly unobtainium technology

3) through 6) agreed, these issues need to be taken into account but I don't see how that meaningfully invalidates my claim that a solar panel operated at 25% efficiency turns ballpark ~75% of incident photons into heat. Thats basic thermodynamics.