You just missed my point about the 1.6MP elephant in the room.

For your information, a global shutter sensor is not required in that scenario.

A global shutter is advisable if you want to get detailed video of a fast moving object that fills a large percentage of the frame, without distorting the shape of the moving object. With rolling shutter, you still see, but get a distorted (elongated, stepped) moving object.

• Does a bullet missing Trump fill a large percentage of the frame? No.
• Do you need to see details of the bullet? No.
• Is Trump moving too fast to photograph without distortion? No.
• Do you need to autofocus on the bullet? No, and you can’t. It’s fine, you already focused on Trump.

It follows that you don’t need global shutter, and you don’t care about autofocus. Merely using fast exposure and having a sensitive sensor + big lens (enabling you to use fast exposure) it will be sufficient.

You also need luck, of course. I think the photographer who snapped that shot had a considerable amount of luck. They weren’t fumbling on their bag for a better X or Y. They were already taking a photo, most likely. Things just happened at the right time for them.

As for practicality of modular and DIY equipment, yes, it may not be everyone’s preference.