...and it turns out you can buy ironing boards that turn into ladders! Or ladders that turn into ironing boards I suppose. Like much less exciting transformers 
I can't really justify buying one as my ironing board quest is about finding a stable lightweight one so as to not rip the hooks out of the wall again where it hangs but just in case anyone else is in the market for an ironing-ladder, I didn't want to keep the news to myself. In the meantime, any recommendations for a lightweight board?