Anyway, I just thought it was about time I posting SOMETHING other than a question. Milo and I both thank you very much for your excellent help and advice!
timbo83 - Milo is my first (and only) turtle and she pretty much fell into my life by accident, but I'm really glad she did. Turtles are a big commitment---they can live several decades in captivity and need a lot of space---but it's totally worth it.
Getting only half the size of a RES is a real selling point!