Well, actually, date me, then. I'm a chef, designing a commercial-style kitchen for my own home, and I like my tools and equipment easy to reach. So if you have any thoughts on my actual question, fire away.

Mine in my last house had 4 chains with hardly any sway. It was only about 3 ft of chain though. Think of it as a playground swing . Swings mostly have only 2 chains, not 4. PS I like pot racks also for the same reason. Easy to reach. Bummer my kitchen now doesn't have a place for one.

Use rods/pipes instead or chains or add 2 diagonal chains to stabilize it.

Those are terrific solutions. Thanks. I'll let you know how it comes out.

The other day in some store I saw a bucket with a chain as a handle -- but the chain links had been affixed to one another so the chain did not move in the conventional way -- did not move at all. I'm guessing this might be done with JB Weld or industrial strength glue.

Another way might be to use metal rods affixed to metal on the ceiling and the hanging ring rather than a chain. Your "S" hooks would still permit the pans to move but not the rack itself.