OK...

Have most of this figured out... but there is something you forgot to mention that makes this much easier.

The "Fit Text To Curve" is misleading...

You see... you can draw a straight line... use "Fit Text To Curve"... which "marries" the text to the line... THEN make the curve with the shape editor tool.

It is much easier (in my opinion) to make the correct size/shape of curve with the text changing at the same time... as opposed to making the curve first, then adding the text.

In any case... this was a great help.

Thanks...

Brett