So, I ordered the tripod that sharptonn suggested -- and it arrived in today's mail, only 13 days after being shipped (hat-tip to the USPS).
Sadly, upon opening the carton (no external signs of damage) I discovered that the "control arm" had been sheared-off, rendering the tripod useless (unless serving as a door-stop, or similar, counts as "useful"). Ought the seller have known to remove the "control arm", prior to packing/shipping? I think so -- it's threaded, and easily removed/attached. I'm crushed, took photos, and have requested a full refund.
FWIW, the tripod is all-metal -- solid and stable and beautifully constructed -- and... :(
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