Mine is a NA swapped to TT so it has no check valve to hold the pressure on the pump, so it primes and my adjustable pressure regulator is set to 3 bar without a vacuum source connected, by the time my gauges have done their 3-4 sec loading cycle the pressure will have dropped to 1.5-1.7 bar, if i leave it for another 20 seconds it would have 0, it starts within almost instantly when the key is turned. Fuel pressure sits at 2.4 bar on idle with the vacuum connected.
The fuel pump controller can wreak havoc by working intermittently or not working at all, you can rule this out by grounding it to the chassis with a short wire and ring connector so it runs at 12v constantly.