Sorry I didn't have time to prepare a video clip to show you guys but it looks like you understand my rigging/mel problem...

Xander-0,
Your idea seems promising. I haven't had time to test it but one thing that jumps to mind is the offset between the locator and the IK handle control once you point constrain them together. I agree that you can turn the constraint off but I think that once you turn it back on, the IK handle will snap back to the original offset position. I actually came up with a solution that was very close to the one you came up with but as I have already mentioned, once you turn the constraint back on, the IK control goes right back to the position of the point constraint plus the original offset. This is why I have been pursuing an expression that simply parents and unparents the IK handle to the body control. Again, my script works but the error message is just something I'd rather not have to look at. I'm still open to any and all ideas.