@pelsteen & @lanfan:
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I had no idea what things were like back in the "dark ages," and it gives me hope for the future.
I've been reading more & more about specialized early-entrance programs at many universities designed to provide enhanced support to the younger college students -- and these look quite promising.
Our son is slated for HS graduation at 15 or 16 and I'm working hard to wrap my mind comfortably around that concept so that I don't spend the next several years doubting our current decision to skip another grade.