Long Travel Soft Brake Pedal

You certainly have read lotsa threads, good job.

Adjust the rear brakes till you can JUST feel them drag .
Set the emergency full on .

How's the pedal?

The first pump usually takes up any unadjusted travel to get the rear shoes out to the drum, once they contact the drum, - the second pump is when you feel pedal/resistance.

You got this.
Its rear disc brakes. With emergency brakes released there is drag on rear brakes. So it appears rear caliper pistons do not have any slack. Brake pedal feel does not change with emergency brakes on or released.