Thanks for the mod complement. I was suprised really hardly anyone seemed to care about it once I posted it. I was hoping to inspire some others.
I haven't made a USB plug in like you are describing but it could probably be done! Manufacturers like to constrain us humans as much as possible. I'm for being an unconstrained consumer hobbiest DIY inventor type. We need a few EE's to join our quest and maybe help with some of the necessary electronics parts of these ideas. (I'm just an M.E. but a rather dangerous one). Hee hee. - Paul