Myles, although your offer of help and enthusiasm are no doubt appreciated, it might be worth noting that there are those around here that consider digging up a topic from nearly a year an a half ago grave-digging. Generally topics die for a reason - lets just leave them be
On a side note, I actually agree. The gates are not actually that necessary. If you bring in the IDC Codes for the Iris then getting always using a stargate to travel doesn't make that much sense. I had an idea for a human string, based on the context of the plug being in the future, after the Ori war. You are a young pilot in the (either US or insert United-Earth government name here) and to start off, you need to (as ever) gain favour with the authorities by doing cargo ship supply runs for the government. After a while you are selected to join an off world mission through the stargate.
Bit of story comes in here. After going though the gate you and your team are attacked and you are the only survivor. The stargate in heavily guarded and you can't fight through alone. After walking for weeks in the wilderness yourself at a (now abandoned of course) Goa'uld mining facility. There is an old damaged cargo ship that with a bit of work you manage to get going again and take off. You are lost on the other side of the galaxy in hostile territory.
Some missions can go here so you can find a Tokra planet to gate back to Earth. After your daring escape from death you are summarily rewarded with the captaincy of a new something class vessel and access to Earth's (since now in the future, highly expanded fleet of ships).
From here you can have missions in the ships and also some through the stargate via the means set out previously, rescuing teams trapped on hostile planets, etc and a larger story-line can emerge.
Regardless, it would be a cool TC but I doubt it will happen and I have long since given up developing.