<*snip*>

I have a Manfrotto 468MGRC5 ball head.  Mine is on a Manfrotto 055C tripod.  
I'm not especially happy with the 468MGRC5 head.  When I purchased it, I
had also been considering the BH-55 head from Really Right Stuff.  
(http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/)  I went with Manfrotto because it was a
lot cheaper.  My 'complaint' is that it's very hard to get the friction
adjustment set so that it's loose enough to move but still tight enough not
to fall over with a 180mm macro lens or telephoto lens mounted.  I suspect
the RSS equipment would have better tension control.  At least it should
for the price.  The Manfrotto 055C tripod is certainly stable; no
complaints at all in that regard.  The only problem I've encountered is
that after 8 years of use, the friction wheel that holds the top section of
the centre post in place is loosing its grip.  Even if I tighten the wheel
as much a possible, the post creeps down as the camera sits.  That gets
frustrating when taking macros.

I have a Bogen 3021 Pro so my answer and advice pertain to that model.
The legs have 4 stop points which prevents the leg opening any further
than those 4 stops.  You have a non locking positioning between those
stops, each leg is independent.  The fourth stop is actually the legs
being straight out horizontal which allows the tripod to go right to the
 ground level when you separate the center post away from the head.
The leg postitioniong is by friction, so you could lift the tripod and
the legs will stay in the position they were in PROVIDED YOU DO NOT MOVE
THEM BY ACCIDENT.  If they were on an uneven position and you put them
on an even surface and pushed down AND there was not enough friction the
leg(s) would move.  I believe that would be the case for any tripod that
has independent leg positioning.

If I were to do it again, I'd go for the carbon fiber version, 055MF3 to
reduce the weight but mainly to reduce the vibration.  I swap between a
Bogen 410 gear head (precise postioning) and an Acratech Ultimate ball
head (fast positioning).

I don't have experience with the 486RC2 head, but do have 486 ball heads
 without the quick release.  I wouldn't mount anything much larger or
heavier than a point and shoot on them.   I use these small ball heads
for positioning my lighting sources in macro work.

If you did put a 486RC2 head on a 3021 tripod I think you would be
meeting your preference of a better tripod than the head.

I got my 3021Pro with the cheap 3029 Pan and Tilt.  That was a mistake
and definitely a case of a better tripod / lousy head.

JD

Yes...the Gitzo G-2220 legs will stay locked wherever you lock them.
The legs will make the world of difference....as you'll see when you
get them. But, the ball head you're looking @ is a great one, (I know
because I have it:-P)...VERY sturdy....just like the legs....once
again...worth EVERY PENNY!!!!!

dont know about that, but, a radioactive spider can have 11 legs :)

That would be a hendecapod.