>...  Nor
>with the built-in http client that can deal with 8-bit data. 

how trivial would it be to modify ftp to omit the normal output it
gives regarding status (for both ftp (the messages is gives are
usually a little long anyway) and http) and instead to spit the
downloaded file to stdout?  presto!  instant 8 bit clean http!

-- 
|-----< "CODE WARRIOR" >-----|
codewarrior@daemon.org             * "ah!  i see you have the internet
twofsonet@graffiti.com (Andrew Brown)                that goes *ping*!"
andrew@crossbar.com       * "information is power -- share the wealth."