That's a great technique, Cybermonk!  Thank you!  I got the scale/snap technique to work while following that tutorial, but I noticed today, when I tried it on arbitrary curved geometry, it wasn't as easy or predictable.  The edge loop simply didn't want to become straight, and it took a lot of tweaking to make it so.  I think your suggestion is the best way to do it natively.

Meanwhile, I was really wishing for an easy, automated solution for this kind of  modeling task, and HeddHeld's link to the EWOCprojects tools was the trick!!!

It has an addon called "StraightenPlus" (see my attach screenshot .  This addon tool does exactly what I needed, automatically!  It appears to work exactly the same as the tool used in the 3dsmax video!  Again, proof positive of the power of Blender, and it's community!

I wonder why the Foundation hasn't integrated these wonderful addons yet!?  They definitely elevate Blender's modeling tools to levels which rival 3dsmax, or any high end modeling software!  Amazing stuff!  I'm just jazzed beyond belief for these FREE  EWOCprojects addons!

Thank you, Heddheld, and Cybermonk.  The last 24hrs on this website have been a really incredible time!