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i certainly wouldn't trust an expensive camera like that hanging from a quick release.

Exactly. I have used it sideways for low angles with the head flipped 90 degrees so it is upright and it does work well enough...so maybe that will do until i drop some dough on a glidecam.

A big problem with these DV Cameras people are using is that they are very light so a steadycam is needed at almost all times, unless you're going for a certain look in your film.

I have also built the $14 steadycam and I'm very happy with it and the shots that can now be made with it.

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Now, regarding your gimbal, i'm a little lost as how you managed to create one. Do you have pics? Because the description is very confusing. Sounds like you built a steadycam with a ball head on top, but how is that functioning as a gimbal? Thanks!

I used a ball head mini tripod - this one happened to be a style that had a handle which contained 3 small folding legs, and the ball head was directly attached to the handle. I think it was intended for use with 35mm still cameras, but it didn't matter, since I wasn't attaching the camera directly. I fabricated an arm from aluminum stock that is kind of an L shape - the long part extends down and back towards my body, and has the weights, the short part extends up and towards my head, and there is a horizontal piece extending towards me from the joint. On the top I bolted a quick release plate from a security camera mount - this holds the camera. The handle and gimbal were mounted directly under this on the horizontal piece. If I drew a picture it would probably be clear. Anyway, the entire assembly is rigid, and the whole thing is supported by the ball joint which is attached to the handle. I have pics but no webspace, and attachments don't seem to be supported here.

If you're considering a Glidecam, you should check out some of the advanced homemade steadicam sites - you can save quite a bit of money and end up with a very usable finished product.