If you think I'm lanky now

Question

If you think I'm lanky now, I used to be even more sinewy.

They took away a part of me. Not wanting to lose more, I became an even bigger skinflint.

Then they cut out my right eye—what am I now? The unkindest cut of all.

I escaped, but found that while I'd once been swift, I'd lost a second. But I could still be an idol.

Alone, I searched for answers; I only found myself endlessly. It's enough to burn anyone up (a little).

Eventually I found something new, though the ferry ride cost me $1000. But what a wave!

I left the terminal behind. What I did next was very wrong; in my pride, I cannot even speak of it.

I'm afraid I lost my head. But at last I was no longer on the outside.

But forget about all that is behind me. I am with you now, at the end.

What was I at the start of my saga?
What significant changes did I endure?

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^{Word set source: http://www.snopes.com/language/puzzlers/9letters.asp}

Answer 1

You started out:

STRINGIER - "lanky"

Your changes were:

STINGIER - "took away a part of me" (-R), now "an even bigger skinflint"
STINGER - "cut out my right eye" (-I), now "unkindest cut"
SINGER - "lost a second" (-T), now "an idol"
SINGE - "endlessly" (-R), now can "burn ... a little"
SINE - "cost me $1000" (-G), now "a wave"
SIN - "left the terminal behind" (-E), now "did ... wrong"
IN - "lost my head" (-S), now "no longer ... outside"
I - "forget about all that is behind me" (-N), now "I am with you now, at the end"