I don't think this is going to great extents to save weight. The cost of having a barrel turned, chopped, and refinished, including shipping, is less than an NSR handguard It's less money than most things people do to AR15s, like lights and light switches, a fraction of the cost of optics, less than many muzzle devices, even less than some stocks.
The carbine length MOE is listed at 6.8oz, but I'm not sure if that's including the weight of stock delta rings vs an MI SS Gen2 or NSR with barrel nut. In any case, even if it doesn't, the weight difference is extremely miniscule...like fractions of an ounce. An ounce at most.
You're not saving meaningful weight by going to an NSR over MOE handguards, and especially single heat shield CAR handguard.
This is true. Clark CF handguards and no backup sights was the idea I had off the top of my head, but I wanted to research other options as well. I don't think I can drill into CF handguards to put a small rail for light, either, whereas we can mount lights on a MOE or regular handguard.
I apologize for my thirst for knowledge. How dare I.