[JohnV]

Brion, thanks for the affirmation that it's ok to seek alternatives to the common practice. I'll scout out other shapes and sizes of stainless steel hardware.
There seems to be a couple of tiers of SS suppliers. I found a couple now who's prices for hardware parts are much lower than everybody else's--so it's probably Chinese stuff or something. I'll assume that it's unwise to economize too drastically.
The Johnson stuff looks nice and would be tempting if money weren't an object.
Incidentally, I found a nice youtube tutorial on making soft shackles, if the link works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH66tGsWv_Y&feature=related[/url]. It looks like you could make a gate out of a long enough shackle.
Thanks again.
John V.