just in case anyone has a similar problem, and searches and finds this thread, here's how i solved it:
i just took a couple of (small, but heavy-duty) clamps (usually used for holding glued wood together) and clipped em onto the strings, right at the top next to the thing that reels in the string... that keeps it from reeling in the strings and pulling my light up to the ceiling.
i have a feeling that if i didn't have an el cheapo lightweight econo hood, that the extra weight of a better hood would keep the light down without the clamps, but the fancy hood will have to wait til i got some more bread to spend...
it's still worth it to have the hanging system... it was a major pain in the ass to adjust my lights with chains before that.
i'd be interested to hear what other people have devised to suspend their lights for easy adjustment... tried searching, didn't stumble across any other threads.