EU Settlement scheme Surinder Singh application in Germany or UK?

Hi,

I have looked all over these forums and cant find anything yet to answer my question.

My wife (Uk citizen) and I (non EU) have been living in Germany for nearly 5 years. We plan on moving to the UK using the SS route before the end of the year and the cut off period.

According to the EU Settlement Scheme call centre I can apply from within the UK using the SS route and I can enter the UK on my current tourist VIsa that is valid for 5 years (I called about 4 different times and every time got the same answer). They will send the paper application for SS to our property there.

Question
Would it be possible to enter on my tourist visa and then apply via the SS route once there as they said?

After all that is how I entered Germany too. On tourist and then applied here for RC.

Question
Or if I do the SS from here and submit all the supporting documentation here via TLS, would I need to do that again once in the UK, and does this make the process quicker once there?

Assuming this option will be better as I can start this process rather soon and get the permit sooner and not, not be able to work during the waiting time in the UK. As I have read on here it could take months to actually get my Residency/ pre-settled status approved.

thank you