junkie,
You're a thinker and a reader. Just keep things in perspective. Cool rifles are just that. Make sure you get yourself what you deserve, in your price range, I have to add.
Custom stuff, especially from this shop, takes a lot of time and planning and $'s, but is rarely altered after the fact and I'd hope not for generations to come. A wealthy friend of mine shot several African antelope with a circa 1900 large Martini, .303 last year, his own handlodes. Early custom rifle, open iron sights. Lots of fun. He also owns a custom Dakota #10 from my shop.
I think you can imagine what is might be like to swack even a forked horn mule deer with my sidelever. I hope for kudu in Oct.
The Dakota #10 trigger REALLY SUCKS. But you need to try another before you can believe that.