No meaningful suggestions, but I like the idea. I happened to see a very similar (?something)Cross in my mother-in-law's garage this weekend, but it looks almost new except for rotted tires.
Make sure you keep the thread updated with how it goes! I'm starting to get curious about CX myself; maybe next year after I get some level of fitness back...
About the crank, are those steel chainrings? That would probably save some lbs right there.