That sounds delightful! I'm glad you had such a fun time with it, especially with it being your first time playing a TTRPG! So congratulations!
And honestly, my policy with changing rules on the fly is that you should absolutely feel free. TTRPGs are a collaboration, after all, so when running it at a table with friends, its really your game as much as it is mine. That said, these are some really interesting modifications and I'm glad you commented so that future players can take inspiration!