Is this a recent Manfrotto invention/innovation or has it been around for a while. I was actually discussing with a friend some time ago after my monopod started to annoy me, about building a home made, collapsible, 2 section aluminium boxed or tubing, spring loaded monopod that would go up and down under pressure from the top to achieve the right shooting height. I was told that such a device as well as bi-pods existed in the past but were no longer in production.
I originally was sold a Manfrotto monopod that wouldn't have held my camera's weight so I returned it and exchanged it (and paid a lot more) for my 680B. Interestingly, the original Manfrotto I returned was not made in Italy but the 680B is.
I was also going to mount on my monopod a plain quick release mount base and plate same as my 200PL-14 as this plate and base is available as a spare part to fit any tripod screw.
http://www.manfrotto.com/quick-chang...-plate-adapter