Folks, I needed to let you know that if you want to see the follow-up work I've done since first posting this and there has been a lot, I have only been updating the identical thread over on Rimfire Central. It can be found Here. Not being as familiar with all the rules regarding linking posts on another forum, I hope this doesn't incur the wrath of the moderators. Rimfire Central seemed like the best place to gather meaningful responses from folks who have "been there, done that." So far it has, but the replies here have been inspiring as well.
Hoot