I have never free soloed something I wasn't inspired to free solo. If I walk up to any of these climbs and I don't feel comfortable, I wont do it. I have no problem downclimbing at all. I have had to do it on many a trad climb. But I'd rather walk off for ease of a nice afternoon.
Picking up up 200 ft of 8 mil cord is a good idea, but still gonna run me around $100.
Perhaps I'll just break down and bring a rope with me. I dont want to hall all my gear down because its not a climbing trip, but I will be climbing a few times.
i soloed direct east face of 1st flat last weekend. it was basically an onsight. so much fun. 3 pitches of 5.6 slab, easy ground until you get to the slot high up, couple pitches of ridge traverse and then 200 or so feet of 5th class downclimbing. maybe you already did it but if not its awesome.