Seemed a little passive aggressive with Rick there....
I like the idea. I would like it even more if you could find a way to make them lock over the slide with out having to slide the head unit off. Some kind of hinge pin could probably achieve this although I don't know how you would achieve that 1mm spacer. For that matter the 1mm spacer doesnt need to be a complete ring, it only needs to be a shim. If you went that kind of route you could have the smallest regualr ring be one that flips on and then have many smaller spacers that clip to that, as they dont need to be full rings, or ring shaped. Also the idea of the plastic is a good one, and the way to approach the issue is keep the width of the ring made from the aluminum so that the depth tolerance is maintained and then use a plastic sleeve inside of it so that that it will glide, even better if you can use some kind of self lubricating plastic.
When you ask for peoples opinions use them, don't dismiss them because it is not what you see in your mind.
I have to bring up the photo, while you couldnt get the depths to change you cut the dominos to get the heights you wanted to show for your sample, deception is not the marketing of quality products.
Adam