Mike,
Thoroughly enjoyed your article. I've somewhat paralleled your experiences, unfortunately also the part about trading/selling some of the .44's I should have kept.
The 4" 29 I got in the 60's was my favorite and actually was one of the more accurate revolvers. One of the 8 3/8" 29s has been reworked by Jim Stroh (Alpha Precision) and is the most accurate .44 I've ever shot, although the Performance Center Master Hunter 629 shoots very well also.
I also purchased a NIB 1968 three screw, which immediately became a frequently shot Ruger. I just purchased my first authenic flat top in .38/357 and really enjoy the grip compared to the new models.
Anyway, appreciated the article.
Dan