Great thoughts guys! Keep 'em coming!
And, Brewinhard, I've been considering an MW102 for my first pH meter purchase here in the next month or two. I've always dreaded having to buy one, but as Ken has pointed out, it's kind of like a hydrometer or thermometer - just another tool that one really should have. So I guess that's the next step in my brewing... I am drinking the Vienna lager right now and it's definitely not thin and bland, fortunately. But I'm glad I started this thread, there's a lot of really good thoughts and ideas coming here.