Hey Artteacher, I have exactly the same issue as you
BUT
I have learned to live with it...
My idle is set to 1200rpm, which may sopund a bit high but it helps with the dieing out issue and still makes for a nice gurgle blurble when I let off the gas when slowing down.
When the engine is still cold, I will blip the throttle when downshifting from 2nd into neutral, or simply slow down until the engine is at around 1500rpm and simply pull the clutch slowly and allow the engine to drop to idle naturally, by itself.
Since the last major job (yes, I know,
pics! we want pics! ) the Savage has died out only twice, and both times during "anticollision maneuvers"