I though that I would use int as it is using numbers and as I use python quite a bit I always use ints. Is that a bad idea?
It's just that Python runs on a PC with more than 2K of SRAM. You need to be aware of every wasted byte on the Arduino.
I meant for you to use Serial.write() to send the value. Your question was whether I meant for you to use Serial.byte(). That I did not mean (or say).