Thanks Lofty and 987...

I've alway found these handy, though I always gravitated to the plastic fantastics and dragged these out for those special awkward occasions. 
With the modifications, those situations can now be more easily satisfied.  Will the time spent to make them be returned? I may never know, but I will appreciate their added versatility.

Have already made use,
with the left hand free to move the workpiece,

and found them quicker to setup and better control than this Rockler "investment".

just far too rigid and difficult to maneuver in tight spots.

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD