Hello. I have a 15 year old house on a slab foundation. Just installed lightly hand scraped white oak hardwood and I wanted the clean look of 1x6 FJ pine with a cap mold and no shoe molding. We’re noticing significant gaps between the floor and baseboard as well as the floor and walls. I know there are no perfect walls, floors, and boards, but I didn’t expect to see these kinds of gaps between the base and wall and floor. In previous posts, someone mention scribing. Here are my questions:

1. Is scribing something that can be done to help? Should it be done or do I have to ask for it? Is my best option to add shoe mold, even though I hoped to avoid it?

2. Can I apply drywall mud to try to even out the areas of the wall where the baseboard appears to be far from the wall? See photo where you can see the nails between base and wall.

3. I’ve repeatedly asked the installer to cope the corners (butt one board all the way into the corner) and he agreed, but continues to miter the corners. I’m not happy with the gaps in the corners or the gaps between the base and wall at rounded corners. I know they can be caulked, but I’m thinking gaps that wide in corners is not reflective of quality work. Are my expectations too high? I want to be reasonable, but I want it to look good. Any advice is greatly appreciated.