As the nbcplogs tool exists today, it does address both of your improvements.
1. Allow alternate temporary location
% nbcplogs --tmpdir=/path/to/temp ...your options/arguments here...
OR
% setenv TMPDIR /path/to/temp
% export TMPDIR...
As the tool sits today, this tool does zero sanitation of logs. It does however have options that may interest you which could greatly reduce the time it takes for you to sanitize the logs.
Copy subset of logs (the subset with the error in the time...