: It sounds like a strip kit would be better quality, although more difficult to
: build. Time is not a problem.

Well, having built both, I'd say that building an S&G is faster but that a stripper is much easier. I'm not sure that I had any more skills than you do now and I probably didn't even have any more tools! Heck, I even used a SkilSaw to cut my (full-length) strips (and it worked just fine, thank you!)!

: Any and all info appreciated (including suggestions on kits).

Oh, oops. Kits. Drat. Well, then you don't have to loft your plywood (for the S&G). Hmm. Well, info and suggestion... Don't use a kit! You'll find all of the help that you need right here - and you did say that time wasn't an issue!

cheers!
charles