Unbelievable! That looks really good but I'm not sure I'll be making it. I can't imagine frying steaks in that much oil and then using the drippings to make gravy. I'll just save it for my next trip back home and let someone else do all that.
I take it you don't eat fish-and-chips? (It is a lot of oil, but if it's hot enough most of it stays in the pan, I believe.) Done correctly, there's nothing quite like a good chicken fried steak. Done badly, oy oy oy!

I've seen the Southern Living recipe before. That does look like it'd serve well in place of ExLax. I only use about two tablespoons of drippings and it makes a small pan of gravy. The crunchy bits that fall off the breading add flavor. There's a gravy mix that is passable, the brand is Pioneer. I keep one in my pantry for the days when I'm too lazy to make "real" gravy. (Like for biscuits and gravy, when I don't want to make sausage or bacon.) Not the world's best, but not bad.
As PB says, you could try an air fryer if you want to avoid the oil.