The specific things you've mentioned so far are NOT SYSEX.
Tempo is a specific midi command, which has a defined structure, including 3 bytes of data - although the second byte of the command is the number of data bytes which COULD be something other than 3 -because it's a defined length and a defined format, then bytes with the high bit set are allowable.
Normally, if the high bit is set, then it's a command byte and not data.
SYSEX messages have a defined header and terminator (F0 and F7 respectively) and part of the start of the message usually indicates device specific info, but the format of the bulk of the message does NOT follow a specific pattern and different messages will have different structures. Messages are usually device specific Again, usually, the data is passed as 7 bit numbers. Including data addresses. But note that the midi data charts usually show all the data addresses in the same format, you don't need to worry too much about converting addresses.
Where a number template is shown as 0bbb bbbb this is because the first bit must be 0, but that's the first bit of the 8. The first bit of the second 'nibble' (half a byte) can be 0 or 1 as required.
If the template is shown as 0000 aaaa then this is actually a 0 - 15 value, lower nibble ONLY, say for channel setting.
Any help so far?
Geoff