So I think I'm getting closer to having a functional setup for the pineapple:
I've added a USB adapter to the Pineapple and I'm connecting to a legit WiFi access point in client mode. This gives the pineapple internet and it can report a public IP. I've added the Default Gateway of that connection as the default gateway for the pineapple statically in the interface.
When wired to the pineapple, I can use this third wifi access point (not WLAN0 or WLAN1) to connect to the internet through my laptop. So I can get to the pineapple and internet through the USB WiFi connection.
However, when Karma kicks in and Dogma creates dummy SSIDs, they cannot be connected to at all. Some of them don't work because, presumably, they use encryption and Karma doesn't handle that, but one of them, for sure, is an open AP. When i try to connect from the primary or secondary laptop, it says it cannot connect. Is it a DHCP problem? The connection is just flat refused, open or encrypted.
Also, is it possible to continue to broadcast the Pineapple admin SSID while doing karma/dogma at the same time? I haven't really had that work for me.