This should have been obvious, but I really hadn't counted on the fact that my nerves about publication would scale linearly with effort expended.
The nerves of negotiating publication for a book MS you've already finished are *huge* compared to getting an R&R on an article.
@pence ooh, good luck!
(but anyway I *think* I have Large Academic Publishing House on the hook now, just have to finish the sales pitch... *holds breath*)