How do I always have the most current data?

I'm essentially looking for real time data. For reference, data will be from either: sql queries from Oracle, MSSMS or Excel files stored online and will be pulled "through" an on-premesis gateway. I want to have a published report and always have the most current data available, and I think I need to check my understanding:

• Dataflows: Not for real-time data.
  • Best use seems to be more for static data that may update once a day/week/month. Currently using them for static lookup tables that update once a day at 12 am. Datasets that pull from Dataflows will have an inherent "lag" since you'll update the dataflow then pull from it for the dataset.
• Datasets: Here's where my knowledge is murky. 
  • I create a report in the desktop app and publish it. When I refresh the dataset that goes with it (online), is it re-running the queries or only pulling the last thing I saved on my computer?
• Refresh:
  • I seem to be only able to schedule up to 8 times (depending on the workspace I'm in, right now it's not a premium space). If I create a flow in Power Automate, will I be able to bypass that restriction, or will it start failing after the 8th refresh?
  • If I refresh the dataset and open the report before it's done refreshing, I have to go into edit and refresh the report itself to get the current dataset data. 
  • If I create a Power App (just a button), that calls the Flow to refresh a dataset and include the button in my Power BI report, it functions in the desktop app but not when published (testing on my own, so there should be no sharing issues). Do I have to set some privilege on it. (referencing the above bullet, do I have to have the button refresh the dataset and then somehow automatically refresh the report while in it?)
  • Is there a way to refresh on report open?
• Direct Query vs Import: I'm not sure if it affects data availability in any meaningful way.
  • I was told to use Import all the time, the few times I tried Direct Query, it didn't seem to want to work with data transformations after the fact.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I would appreciate any light you can shed on this for me.