Well, crap. After reading all of your opinions, thoughts, guidance, etc, I've come to the realization that my weight was just unrealistic. So, hear me out and give me some feedback on this idea.
Keep my Kimber Mountain Ascent that I already have in the 280AI and look at lightening it up just a bit (currently is 6 pound 12 ounces "dressed"). I'm due to replace the stock on that rifle, so if I get a lighter stock I could realistically get close to a 6.5# gun. This would make this gun, for me, my sheep/backpacking rifle (less than 500 yards).
With that being said, I still hunt probably more often from an ATV/truck/basecamp where I hike less than 1-2 miles from that location. So my second thought would be to use your advice to build a realistic weighted (~9#) 280AI. One that is dependable, easier to shoot, and a "moderately long range gun" (less than 1000 yards). This would be a mixture of all the above posted ideas plus some of my originally posted ideas.
Am I crazy to be thinking this path? Two guns in the same chambering, but serving different purposes?