Gerald Combs and I were discussing alternate methods of using ssh over odd ports. Some of the things at the above link apply. Tunneling ssh over http/https were the main points of discussion. Some other interesting stuff I ran across while looking at this:
Google for "web shell" web shell plug in for an OSS CMS http://typo3.org/extensions/repository/reviewed/mw_shell/?tx_extrepmgm_pi1%5... Perl shell http://legacy.gammacenter.com/gamma.py/products/WebShell
Some Java shell https://trinity.aas.duke.edu/mt.html
Brian Kelsay