SOLVED - Cryptic Pyramid II

[Elethiomel]

Here's an(other) attempt to one-up Novice (my brother).

Same rules as before; the answers to the initial clues form one or more clues for another set of answers, etc.

1. The first fruit returned as a present. (4)
2. Ageless French cheese with this origin. (4)
3. Lyon butcher elicits a bribe. (6)
4. Murder; a deadly encounter, originally initiated by the Mafia. (4)
5. Past recovered from the abyss. (2)
6. Couch without resistance so far. (4)
7. Orson acquires a doctoral title for occupants. (8)
8. Exerts influence from church towers. (8)
9. Necklace exposed by clear top. (8) *
10. Inceptions favoring a closer look. (10)
11. Including Dan Rather. (3)
12. Approval from the superuser holds a relative value. (10)

* &lit.variant for Zag (solve the original clue first): Exposed by clear tops! (9)

[Suspence]

5. Past recovered from the abyss. (2) BY
6. Couch without resistance so far. (4) SOFA
9. Necklace exposed by clear top. (8) PECTORAL
10. Inceptions favoring a closer look. (10) INSPECTION
11. Including Dan Rather. (3) AND
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[novice]

Hurrying before Suspence gets them all:

1. The first fruit returned as a present. (4) - GIFT

Argh, he's editing!

3. Lyon butcher elicits a bribe. (6) - BARBIE
4. Murder; a deadly encounter, originally initiated by the Mafia. (4) - MADE

[Suspence]

Sorry, I was only editing before I saw your post. I'll post new as I solve.

GIFT
?
BARBIE
MADE
BY
SOFA
?
?
PECTORAL
INSPECTION
AND
?
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[novice]

2. Ageless French cheese with this origin. (4) - FROM

[novice]

8. Exerts influence from church towers. (8) - INSPIRES

[novice]

OK, I'll spoiler the rest...

7. Orson acquires a doctoral title for occupants. (8) - DWELLERS (WELLES + DR anag.)

12. Approval from the superuser holds a relative value. (10) - ADMI(RATIO)N

Which gives the second level as

GIFT FROM BARBIE MADE BY SOFA DWELLERS INSPIRES PECTORAL INSPECTION AND ADMIRATION

Last second level clue solves to
INSPIRES PECTORAL INSPECTION AND ADMIRATION => RESPECT

[novice]

Second level:

MADE BY SOFA DWELLERS => OF

[novice]

Kind of stuck at the first second-level clue, although

I guess it could be GIFT FROM BARBIE MADE, since BY SOFA DWELLERS is sufficient for OF

[Suspence]

Could GIFT FROM BARBIE be BRIBE?
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Oscar]

The first 2nd level is token (Gift from Barbie to Ken!)
giving:
token of respect = sceptre (which if you accept 'token' as an anagram indicator is a nice &lit)

Nice work from the two brothers!

[Suspence]

Nicely done, Oscar.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Zag]

Nice one! With 2 nice &lit;s.

[Elethiomel]

Thanks.

[novice]

Nice. I like how you gave the entire second level one surface reading. And you obviously put more effort into the first level clues than I did.

[Elethiomel]

Given the lightning speed with which you all solved this, it might be more rewarding if we just omit the word lengths for the first level, too? Nobody seems to be missing them for the second and third levels.

[novice]

[Elethiomel]

Ah, indeed you did. I should have done the same, then. Not that I expect it to make a huge difference.