the redemption of SuperCertificate into merchant GCs is still fee and shipping free if using standard USPS - did one this morning for a BB&B GC.
Sounds like if they persist with the higher fees, in order to minimize the fees buy one $500 SuperCertificate ($1 fee plus $1 email fee
) and then slowly redeem for merhcant GCs in whatever denomination you need at a time.