Yes I am aware this is kind of a crazy idea. I guess i am just desperate to save this damn thing before it is too late. But if it is possible to do it properly it may just be the most important event in the film's release history. Of course, yes, it is still just a crazy idea.
As for 16mm, i doubt that would really give us much, aside from the fact that these would have been severely used and scratched to hell the resolution is not much more than what a DVD offers.
As for the physical act of scanning a 35mm print--i work as a motion picture camera assistant and as such i frequently deal with and meet people in film labs and transfer houses. Lets just say i know more than a few people that would be willing to give this a shot.