Ah, you said the regulator was warm with the car sitting idle. I misread that to mean "at idle". Put an accurate voltmeter across the battery a few minutes after shutting off the car. Then check again an hour later. There should be no difference. If there is, you have a "leak".

I suspect that your alternator field leads may be in the wrong orientation. Is the lock tab intact on the alternator field connector? Any chance the field leads have been tapped, switched or rewired? (2 wire connector on alternator)

Here is an informative little text. Note the modification on page 3. http://madelectrical.com/electricaltech/remotevoltagesensing.shtml