I generally agree with the others and I wasted my time trying a lot of "interim" steps.
I did like my AKG ck9x active setup pretty well, and it was, I thought, a true step up from smaller mics, but it was also a custom-made solution. Those aren't around much. Similarly, any of the AKG active solutions being contemplated in that thread could run "only" around $1k. If you could find a ck1x setup, even better.
The active setups that still require bodies in the chain are obviously less stealthy - Busman actives (still $899, and I'll be honest, at that price, I'd pass), Beyer 930/950, Milabs, MBHOs. May not be a huge issue for you, but it certainly is less compact than what I'd call the gold standard in very lowpro setups, either the DPA 402x or Schoeps and the various solutions they offer.
If the Beyers can run w/o bodies with a tinybox (I believe they can), that is a legitimately good setup that is way better than CA-14s, doesn't require bodies, and costs a lot less than Schoeps. Maybe some of the Beyer guys can confirm whether Jon has actually produced a full Beyer>tinybox rig - I know it's been discussed.
Also worth noting, but also needing bodies, Neumann KM140s have been going for a lot cheaper prices than the other mics they're typically compared to (Schoeps, DPA) lately, I believe because Neumann is phasing them out. I have not run 140s, but I mean, they certainly are a very well respected mic. If I could get a 140 set for $1600 with the active cables, I'd probably be able to live with running the bodies, esp because their bodies are tiny (much smaller than Schoeps/AKG/DPA/Beyer fullsize bodies); I don't know how they compare to Milab or MBHO).
Lots of guys here are happy with the Beyers and don't show signs of moving from them; HOWEVER, you have to think carefully if you are one of those guys. Their resale value has not been great on these boards - I took a $250 hit on a set that was four months old; raoulduke's very nice looking set sat here for months and many price drops - and so if you move to Beyers, then think, "Oh, I really want Schoeps" or whatever, you will lose money. Like I did. I note that I owned the 950 hypers, not the more universally-loved 930 cards, though. And mine were not actives.
*If* I could snag 140s at some of the sick prices that have been showing up around here, I'd probably do that, if I were doing it all over again. That strikes me as the best deal going among the highest of the high end.
Or you know, Schoeps rigs are now possible under $2k. They of course have their naysayers, and they are $$$, but it seems an awful lot of people (myself included) keep buying them. There is absolutely no argument, IMHO, that Schoeps offers the most options of ways to put together a rig, and therefore are a bit more adaptable to your needs.