[Claudius]

or in a pseudo-parallel configuration where each of the balance plugs is inserted into a separate 4S socket on a paraboard. That would cause each cell to be ganged up in parallel with one other, but the balancer circuitry would only see four cells.

Attempting to do this would result in an internal short through the pack itself (unless the two 4S "halves" of the main pack can themselves also be separated, in which case this would be equivalent to charging two 4S packs in parallel).

Or did I misinterpret this thought in some way?

here lies the answer . and of course they are only in the international warehouse and out of stock
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store..._2_8S.html

This is what I would use wingtipper... and only then because this very board came with my iCharger.

As disoriented alluded to in terms of risk, you need to be very careful to make sure you put the lower balance tap (edit: lower, as in lower potential) into the -ve side of the balance board. Every. Damn. Time. Because the first time you don't will be the last time you use that balance board or the balance taps on that battery (depending on which happens to vapourize first).