Better to Consolidate Library or Import all songs again?

I can't Consolidate my iTunes Library on my internal HD because there is not enough HD space to copy all files again.
I believe I have two main choices.
1) Delete all music files on the internal HD (I have multiple backup copies of everything) and create a new iTune Library (hold down Option key when launching iTunes) and copy all music files from the multiple HD locations, (this music is in iTunes Media folders) into the new iTunes Library ( home > Music > iTunes > iTunes Media > Music ) by opening the newly created iTunes and use File > "Add to Library" command.
OR
2) Delete all music files on the internal HD ( I have multiple backup copies of everything) and go to File > Library > Organize Library > Consolidate Library
Questions:
A) Will using method #1 produce different results than using method #2?
B) How do I manage or in some way control the way iTunes will operate if I choose to Consolidate Library?
I like the concept of method #1 because it feels like a clean install, something I try to do as much as possible when I'm having problems or want to make significant changes.
The reason I want to do this in the first place is my iTunes has become sluggish, taking many seconds to respond to click commands. I was told I should Consolidate Library and this will improve my iTunes performance by better organizing the music in the iTunes Library.
Concerns:
#1 I assume if I use method #1 I will loose all my Playlists, Plays and Ratings type of data. This is the downside. I can export my Playlist as XML files and reimport them to the new iTunes Library yes? That doesn't take care of my ratings info, which is probably my second most important concern.
#2 I'm leary of leaving iTunes to "Consolidate Libray" because I'm not sure exactly how iTunes will handle the 80k songs I have taken so long to load, organize, classify, re-name, add lyrics and countless other info presumably contained in the meta data. What could go missing or get mixed up?
Thanks for any advice.

You are trying to get all your music into one location on external?
Do this...
Quit iTunes.
Copy the entire /Music/iTunes folder to external drive.
Hold Option and launch iTunes.
Select Choose library... and select the iTunes folder on the external.
Go to iTunes prefs > Advanced. Make sure iTunes media folder location is set to the current iTunes folder you are using on the external.
Tick Keep iTunes media folder organized.
Tick Copy files ot iTunes media folder when adding to libary.
iTunes menu File > LIbrary > Organize library. Tick Consolidate.
Let it finishand everything in iTunes is on in the iTunes folder on the external.
You can delete Music/iTunes/ on the interanl.

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