MisterQ,
I believe I know the solution to your most pressing dilemna.
Well, two possible solutions, in fact.
First, there is an oft-forgotten mic out there called the Rode NT2. It has a real nice bass rolloff, and a naturally bright sound. Those are the pros. Cons are that it tends to sound a little too "shimmery" and polished on some voices, so it's picky about who sings in to it.
Secondly, there is my personal favorite workhorse mic, the Marshall mxl v93. Same thing as the 2003. It has a noticeable brightness to it, but unlike the NT2, it isn't unnatural sounding and is never harsh. The bass rolloff is what I really like about it. It works like a champ.
Eliminates proximity effect, and even thins out an overly beefy-sounding voice if that's your thing.