Don't get impatient. I passively dry my vinegar with heat, by placing it on top of a toaster oven. On the lowest settings it cycles on for 30sec-1min every few minutes. I actually turn the heat way up during the beginning, and then lower it once the vinegar starts getting thicker. My evap plates are usually dry withing 12 hours.

Now as to potential potency loss I can't attest either way. I feel that my mescaline is of average potency as 300mgs of acetates was a full psychedelic experience, and after purifying my acetates I'd estimate that the 300mgs was more like 200mgs HCl. I don't know why heat would be a big issue since mescaline hcl is pretty heat stable, and acetic acid evaporates along with the water preventing too much "acid burn." But that's just my thoughts, experiment for yourself and add to our data!