Reading up on how best to seal NPT pipe on a 1" commercial toilet inlet. Apparently everyone has a favorite technique: dope, tape, dope/tape, tape/dope, dope/tape/dope. One lab study found most can seal adequately, but they always used "industry standard" 4 wraps of tape (in the direction of the threads so as to not unwind the wraps) and 1 1/2 turns after hand tight. I went with tape/dope and the leaky connection no longer leaked.
Never heard of a 1 1/16" socket referred to as a 17/16".
Then there is the magnesium vs aluminum issue. MG tends to cause rotten egg smell more than AL or AL/ZN rods in certain types of water. Or so they say.
And the recommendation to not use Teflon tape on the anode rods is not unanimous. Many say the threads will cut the tape and provide electrical continuity.