.. though Excel is having to chug for quite some time!
... and I just don't seem to grasp pivot tables!

Failed to mention in my response earlier that the pivot option
gets you there in a matter of seconds

Perhaps a sample file to illustrate:
http://www.freefilehosting.net/download/3i3il
Unique combos via pivot.xls
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Max
Singapore
http://savefile.com/projects/236895
xdemechanik
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