Too complicated ? I think my setup is extremely un-complicated.
As for it "all sits on top of the head", that is exactly what I wanted to eliminate. To have the lightest, smallest unit actually on the head. To that end, when I have time I'll be making a much smaller and more compact slave cylinder that is also easy to attach and remove from the head.
As for you description, you may want to look at post 20
HERE and the link in it may be what you have in mind, I'm not sure.