Quote -  The subsequent posts simply bear out the fact that to use the GC feature requires the jumping through of numerous hoops on each and every item loaded into the scene.

I'd have to disagree with that.  I think I showed how you can just set your material properties for the entire scene and not for each item separately.  The only thing  I mentioned doing separately was the texture filtering of the hair which has nothing to do with GC.   I honestly thought this was going to help and not make matters confusing.  I guess I'm not cut out for tutorial writing....