OK, looks like it works, at least on the stand. If the weather is decent tomorrow, I will test it in the field. Briefly, I have the 11-36T cassette set up with a new Shimano chain (which I waxed) and my 46/30T crankset. That gives me a 22.6 "gear inch" low (as opposed to a 29" low gear I started with when I had a 50/34 vs. 11-32), and I can safely cross-chain (not that I plan to) with two links removed from the new chain. The shifting seems rougher, but that could be the hot paraffin lube I decided to try...