I don't use a center dowel rod either. I have always used the plastic separator plates. I don't usually assemble until I get to the delivery site though. Center dowel or not, the pot holes here in northern Maine would demolish the cake either way! 
Missy - I mark the top of the cake with the plate "feet" so I know where NOT to put the dowels. Then I put the dowels in the cake. Then I place the cake that's on the sep. plate down - because I've marked the cake - when I go to place it - I look in between the cakes and line up the feet with the marks I placed and place it right there. That way the dowels are supporting the plate (not where the feet are but directly on the bottom of the plate - just like regular stacked construction). Hope I wrote this so it's understandable. Your right visuals are much easier......
Thank you! Makes absolute perfect sense! Now I can't wait to try it!!!! I do have some of the new Wilton smooth edge plates, so, I won't have to worry about the scallop edges. 
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