Re: What`s the time-frame professionals would consider reasonable for such a project?

[Noah Kadner] "avoid the on-camera mic at all costs"

I am going to dissent with Noah here. DO use your camera sound, with the on-camera mics if there is no other way. The XL-1 does not record the sound of its own gears while running, so cover your butts and record the audio that surrounds the take IN the camcorder, preferrably with good mikes, yes, and well placed -- all pro camcorders record sound, anyway-- AND try to get another sound source in line, like a DAT recorder or something you can trust. The reason to insist in doing the on-camera is that if something goes wrong you always have AT LEAST the audio from the camcorder. It is good to try and get good audio, because bad audio will kill your work, but it is MUCH BETTER to be safe and have the sound somewhere else too as a backup.

.k.