>> Would good old duct tape work for any raw edges?
Yes, but it's not very pretty. Clear fingernail polish won't eliminate a rough edge, but it can make it less sharp. Maybe a few passes with a file or coarse sand paper, then a dab of nail polish, especially if the wire ends hang straight DOWN so that the nail polish forms a blob over the sharp bit.
If someone with strong wrists visits, you can bend a wire loop around needle-nose pliers, and hide the sharp bit inside the loop.
Home Depot had some "remesh" that looked like heavy welded wire fencing with 6" squares. The panel was something like 4'x5' or maybe 3'x4'. It would be stiffer than masonry ladders, but not as long.
And you would have to cut a panel of remesh into 1/3rds or 1/4's. I was thinking "angle grinder", which you could also use to polish the edges smooth.
