Brilliant thread that I have missed some how, not much to add other than I tried to cure/dry some paste baits in salt and they went to mush, I didn't dry them before hand though and think the moisture just got sucked out and made the bait mushy... Also in my quest for a no egg firm paste I found this stuff for sale.... http://modernistcuisine.modernistpantry.com/products/instagel-cold-set-gelatin
I tend to look but not buy as my pennies don't allow much leyway to experiment