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My question is, should I install that amp BEFORE the power inserter for the Channelmaster 7777 preamp?
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Probably not.
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Also, the unit's noise floor is 6db, which is decent and seems to be about what current models are...
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6 dB NF is actually pretty pathetic. A decent amp is under 3 dB, a very quiet amp is under 2 dB. FWIW, I had a collection of amps from Radio Shack that I'd accumulated over the 15-20 years before I came to work here. Once we acquired test gear to measure amps, all of them ended up in the trash.
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but is there a cleaner unit with around 3db NF that will send power to the 7777 AND give me about 15-25db of variable gain, with just one output? I've looked a bit and can't seem to find one.
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No. There are no TV pre-amps in the consumer arena, except for some satellite line amps which may or may not cover the OTA frequencies, that will pass power further upstream to additional amps.
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So I was kind of surprised it worked.
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Me too. With a 30 dB amp on the front end, you have enough gain for an 8 way splitter and 250' of RG6 coax. If you have to add additional amplification, something isn't right. Perhaps the Tablo's tuner is somewhat deaf.
There are ways to provide power to an upstream pre-amp around a distribution amp, it does take a bit of finagling to pull it off and it's not without its potentially negative consequences.