Have a look into the excellent 2010 screen-set by GER21 on here - it's damn good and has tool changing down to a fine art.
I am in the same position as I 'm converting a Bridgeport mill and that has R8 too.
Also might want to look at youtube - TTS tooling, looks pretty good and repeatable too.
My thoughts were pretty much the same as yours - change tool, use touch-plate to get Z zero, run part, rinse, repeat...
I use the touch-plate on my mini-mill and its pretty accurate.
I'm wanting to touch the top of the part I'm working on, I have no plate yet either. TTS holders and a power draw bar would be awesome but this is all I have to work with right now.
Do you have a link to that thread?