[quote]I refuse to use the virgule version .. or a plural for singular[/quote
I agree and do the same. Of course, it's difficult and frequently you find yourself hemming and hawing a bit when you have to some up with something on the fly.

For an interesting, and mostly successful, example of how to use gender-neutral language, you can study the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (not the latest edition of the Revised Standard Version, which is a different version altogether). We use this in church for all purposes and for the most part it's a good solution to a problem which many people (not me) want addressed, but there have been times when I'm standing at the lectern gritting my teeth over something I have to read aloud and putting a good face on it.