I'm no fan of the high-boost long-grids and don't recommend them, they are too high-Q peaky. They are intended to correct the response for under clothing mounting on the talent for voice work. I only keep them around to sand down to the same length of the short grids in case I need an extra, or to trade for short grids.
I always use the short grids. The mics are better protected and the response with them is flatter overall- it does have more of a peak around 10KHz (lower Q than the high-boost grids) than naked without any grid, but is also more extended and doesn't drop off as fast above that. Again, my standard is "EQability" and the short grids give me that. With the short grids it's basically a diffuse-field type shelf response. I can adjust with EQ either way from there as necessary due to placement, distance or whatever. Even with stealth under clothing music recording setups I prefer the short grids and add whatever high-shelf EQ is necessary.
Would one of the builders here would be able to make something like a poor-man's 4090 that would still allow the grids to be mounted? I'm envisioning the 4060 capsule sticking out of the rubber boot of an XLR connector, though I don't know if that would leave enough room for the circuitry or if it would even be a cost-effective thing to do.
Could do that pretty easily with Naiant PFAs. Just hardwire them to the PFA board and mount the mic in the rubber strain relief with some sealant. Would make mounting an APE ball attachment more difficult, but with a bit more work you could mount the mic at the end of a piece of tubing about the same diameter as the mic body.
I'm sure you've seen the DIY APE sphere's I used to use, pictured in my threads here. Not difficult to make, just Nerf gun balls with an appropriate sized hole melted through them using a big nail head headed up with a propane torch and a cut section of drinking straw inserted. The drinking straw just makes for a smother bore so mic insertion is easier. I've seen closed cell foam outdoor ping-pong and floating golf practice balls from the same material in slightly smaller diameters and different colors. Could be additive manufactured (3D-printed) easily as well I suppose.
The close cell foam balls are light enough that I could use them on the end of the antennas at a wide spread, couldn't do that with a wooden sphere, unless delicate balsa. They are well damped and don't ring as far as I can tell, with a density and surface harness sufficient for the frequencies in question.
Not sure if DPA offers the heavy duty cable on the 4060 as well as the 4061.