Thank you everyone for the responses, and even a couple of private emails! I have some reading/learning to do and I'm going to have to get EMFRD from the Library again.
I also want to go with a phasing setup because I feel like it's the next bit of evolution in my understanding of radios. I think I'll start with building a DC receiver with phasing, homebrewed. It'll be some time before I get to it though, I am still working to finish a recumbent trike build :)
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Ryan Flowers W7RLF