Ah, it's all about habits, Piers: I want to be able to play things the way I play them, i.e practice my own arrangements. But you're right -- it wouldn't hurt me to look for new ways to play chords in the meantime -- perhaps my PIP joints are not the only things lacking flexibility.

I do know what notes each finger is playing as long as I don't stray above fifth fret. Above that, I play intuitively since I often capo on fifth or seventh (I like the way my guitar sounds with the capo up there). I can certainly look for other ways to play chords: I have used a few of them in my life, such as the F-hand-shape forms of G and A major. I often come up with creative ways to cheat on barre chords, like playing the first and second strings and then moving my index finger over to play a bass note (another activity not possible at the moment).

I'm sure I'll come out of this a better guitarist with more awareness of possibilities. I'll save this thread since it is so full of suggestions.