Hi, did you check that the ejection seat was correctly armed? That's an handle on the right side of the seat, with black & yellow stripes which has to be pushed down.
The canopy switch has no security indeed, it's up to the pilot to not use it when he doesn't have to.
About the vapor trails, that's a weird issue, I don't know much about that but you should see it when there's ambient humidity and under 4Gs at least.