Thanks, Gerry, for this clear and informative post.

I'd like to plug Eric Bourn's SAS Global Forum 2015 talk and super demo on this topic:

SAS1857: Hands-Off SAS® Administration - Using Batch Tools to Make Your Life Easier

https://sasglobalforum.activeevents.com/2015/connect/sessionDetail.ww?SESSION_ID=1857

Also, Liz McIntosh touched on this topic at SAS Global Forum 2014:

Paper SAS396-2014: Understanding Change in the Enterprise