Hot panels is something I really did not think of. But even the stock vynil door panels are surrounded by metal. The only thing that may touch the panels is your bare knee. Your arm will touch the stock door metal before the panel itself, so hot door window sills is always going to be a problem regardless if the panels are vynil or metal.
As for cutting my own, I must be doing something wrong. I cut some diamond plate for the area where the front seat belts attach just above the seats. I tried different speeds, and various types of blades (# of Teeth), and the jigsaw kept kicking and bending the soft aluminum diamond plate.
I would like to have nice straight cuts. I could use my grinder with a cutting wheel, but I know straight is not what I do well. So without floor shears, I don't think it's going to happen.
Thanks for the link to Aftermarket 4x4, I will have to email him.
Ryan