I remembered one more reason that I hate basing minis - the squadron putty I use for filling in the bases makes me hella woozy and dizzy - even if I use it in a well ventilated area.
Nevertheless, my units are now properly filled, and I can finish adding ballast tomorrow.
Purchase of the squadron putty and some medium ballast to mix with my fine ballast for the base set me back $8.50, bringing the total cost for the unit up to $13.29 - so I am now at the point where I could have bought one blister pack of new IG minis.
For now... the colors! The colors! Hello Slaanesh, will you be my friend?