Well... it's here and it is beautiful...Gitzo tripod and RRS ball head and L-plate. Took them down to the beach and while they are (predictably and expectedly) a lot bigger and heavier than my little Sirui setup, the stability and ease of adjustment are truly amazing. The finish on both is beautiful too.
I suspect this will be the last tripod setup I buy now I have the Sirui for travel and serious hikes, and the Gitzo/RRS combo for everything else !