Just to give a follow-up, sorry to have forgotten to inform... I ended up picking up an XTR 9 speed hub, along with a Mavic OP CD rim (I went with the OP CD as I got a cheap performance front wheel that was available on discount, but only the CDs were in stock).

I went to Conrad's in Tudor City, and all-in the price for build and spokes was about forty bucks. It seems very solid, and definitely is a far cry lighter than the touring wheels I've been using, even with 3 cross and 32 spokes. I'll see how long and how well they hold up, but Conrad's definitely did the work better and for less than I would have paid online...

It may not be as light as the oddsandendos wheels I had thought about, but I think it may prove a little more bombproof. Heck, saving more than a pound outright on wheels is a pretty big adjustment

I guess the all in came to something like $60 for the rim, $65 for the XTR hub (9 speed on clearance, non-disc, with a 20% coupon in addition to the cut rate price), and $40 for the build... $165 for a handbuilt rear wheel seemed like a deal to me at the time.