OK. I'm pleased it worked out.
. . . and if I was to choose between a solution that helps me move on with a project and a solution that might be more efficient but is too hard to get my head around that it makes me want to give up on the project altogether. I would chose the former option. . .
This is of course entirely consistent with the Arduino ethos:
. . . The ethos of the Arduino is to simplify the process of making electronics, to make it accessible to people who don't have a technical background.
As the project page itself says, Arduinos are designed so that "anyone - children, hobbyists, artists, programmers - can start tinkering just following the step by step instructions of a kit, or sharing ideas online with other members of the Arduino community. . .
From: Arduino: The smart person's guide | TechRepublic
Major components of the Arduino ESP8266 core software use the String class internally and return String values to the user so use them without a feeling of guilt.
If you stay on this forum for any length of time, it will surely not be the last time that your exposed to "evil String" argument.