hey Zam, can't you order heads from the shop you drive by?
If they stock Remo, they can get it. After all, all it takes is a part number.
Maybe you can strike up a relationship with them (if you haven't already) and start getting as good a deal from them as you can on the net.
Guy's like us keep them in business.
I've been going to my shop for over 35 years. Most of the people that work there have been there for many years also. It's a very cool place.
My take on the butt plate "situation" is, I get it about not using "any head you want", but with any product, sometimes certain things work, and certain things don't for different people.
There's millions of people that have been using a "regular" SS head with no problem, "I" just happen to like the bottom tighter than others I guess.
Bonham never seemed to have any issues with it--at least no one (his techs, Jason etc..) has said they, or he did.
Carmine, Baker, Morello, on and on used the 400 and 402 with regular heads and the butt where it is.
I just like a tighter bottom head, so I use the no collar Ludwig or Remo. No biggie.
It's not like a Hazy Remo (or Evans etc...) sounds so much better than a no-collar, and we're all screwed or something.
IMO, the butt could be moved up a bit, sure, but if it's not, it's not a deal breaker for me to say I don't want to use the snares.
I could use pretty much any Brass snare, and get the sound I want out of it, but, Ludwig snares just have that certain something extra that draws me to their drums.
It feels "right" with a Ludwig snare, and that's why I use them.
If (besides the sound) the "extra" reason of "it's the vibe" is flawed for anyone, they're free to use what they want. It's not going to matter to anyone else what I use right?