I want to be able to mount a red dot sight and also use the irons (co-witness). I don't want to have to remove the damn thing everytime I clean the gun and fieldstrip it. I guess that rules out the Ultimak and side-mount systems, eh? I don't really care if it's forward or rear mounted. Any suggestions?  

If you use an Aimpoint or similar 30MM optic on the Ultimak, with the Aimpoint rings, you can see the irons just fine through the bottom of the scope.

This is the set up I have on my Polytech Legend. If the battery dies, you just scrunch down your cheek weld and get back in the war.

And don't let anybody tell you that the heat will ruin the scope. Ain't so. Just walking around with the rifle in the Arizona sun gets the scope a lot hotter than shooting the gun does.

Caution: AK's are pretty nose-heavy to begin with. The Ultimak makes it more so. Not unmanageable by any means; but the handling does change.

Good luck.

SD