Les,
I started with the .45 in 1980, and still shoot Single Stack from time to time. Messing with things is not new to me, I've been an R&D machinist for 45+ years, gunsmithed for a total of 12 years. Built guns for the Masters, including converting a Remington 572 to being box mag fed instead of the tube.
Following some of you that already went down the RDB road will just make it easier, I think.