Quickdtoo,
You definitely sound familiar with the office staff and personnel at the headshed, certainly more than me. Jennifer is who answered my call initially, but she sounded rather preoccupied as I tried to talk to he before she transferred me.
Whether 22 or 26 inches, I'll definitely be going for a Whelen too regardless of the length. And of course what finally shows up [available] and when will indeed be the bottom line.
Some barrels I'm interested in are for long-term use and acquisition ('06, .223, .45/70, 12 gauge, etc.), but some are for experimentation - without having to acquire complete and full size rifles (7.62X39, .204 Ruger, .280Rem, and now the Whelen!). This is one of the huge advantages/features I see in the Handi-Rifle, but the many different stocks/forends avaliable also enhance the versatility of these singleshots, too. And some designs are downright ingenious. My $.02.