I recently got into the fray with a 5-string Mele Concert (prototype = Frankenstein-ized with a mis-matched 5th tuner) which has been my uke of choice from the day I got it.
I didn't take it to Hawaii this past trip so UAS reared it's ( bea....ful/ug..ly) head and I got a 6-string Concert Island Ukulele (older model, used but beautiful). Sorry no pics.
I noticed that the wound A string, 1st of the first strings, seemed to over-power the entire sound of the uke. I finally re-strung it by substituting the lower octave C (unwound) string with it. Now it sounds better to me and the bass/low register doesn't seem to over-power the sound.
I got the "beginner" cramping in my chord hand. It takes more finger/hand strength to hold down those double strings for a clean sound. At least for me it does.
I played it a few times for my Mom's DayCare group while they were having dinner. Some songs did NOT go well. These were the ones that required a bit of "picking". That being said, the sound was fuller and had more volume.
Now I'll be bringing 5- and 6-string ukes for gigs, etc. By the way on the 5-stringer it's the G that is doubled/octave, high = string 5, low = string 4, so I have both a reentrant and a low G sound...well, sorta.
I'm not yet ready for an 8-stringer, but it sounds like you've done your homework (read daydreaming?) so go for it!
Aloha,