Loading Libraries at 'pre_controller' hook stage? (developing light-weight custom authentication)

[eluser]beyondwords[/eluser]
Yeah that all makes sense from the digging around the source I did to try and figure this one out. I was hoping to do something other than extending from Controller for something that isn't strictly speaking a controller. But I might try that if I can't think of a completely different take on this problem.

Thanks to you both!