Nice review Bob...and welcome here also.
The handles have been a concern for me for a long time. It is probably why it took me so long to buy a Thermette.
I will look at the site and see what the original handles looked like and rework mine too.
Thermette makes a big deal out of being able to lift the kettle one-handed rather than using the bail and chain of a Kelly, but the close oval handles just look like a nasty burn to me. Lifting the Kelly with the bail horizontal is something I learned right quick.
What wire did you use to redo your handles?