Though it would likely cause a fist fight in Coonarse land, you can buy roux in glass jars at the grocery store and save yourself a lot of time.

Real gumbo doesn't have okra and tomatoes. That's something that was added by the yankees when they were trying to figure out how to make it.

I know some people don't consider Baton Rouge to be true Cajun country, but it's far enough south in Louisiana for me to consider them as being in the know. That's where my Dad's family has lived for many generations and they all put okra in their gumbo. So, I would tend to disagree with your statement. If you would have said corn and tomatoes, I'd high five you.