I'll say one thing about Amazon, when you have an impulsive itch it can get scratched quickly. Ordered last night and already here this afternoon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9Y445KR/?tag=akfnfal-20

Thanks to another forum member, this little guy is almost exactly what I was looking for. Compact, fairly light, range bag friendly, precision movement and absolutely handles the weight of this big ol Vortex w/o the least bit of wobble. Not sure how it will do prone, the legs will go flat, but probably not ideal. I’m guessing a Creedmoor style will be better for expert competition, etc, but this had a relatively low $ risk to try. I don't know if it's a low-end feature but the guide handle on my current cheapo, POS tripod will allow horizontal/vertical adjust by untwisting (convenient). This is thumbscrew adjust.