New Column functionality without direct list editing

We are customizing a lead list so our sales team can go down the list to make calls. When direct list editing is enabled, this is really easy via the "New" column drop-down which allows for a "New Phone Call" that opens a pop-up form to record the phone call. However, I do not want the potential for data corruption that direct list editing allows. Is there any way to get the same or similar functionality (record phone call directly from list via pop-up) without direct list editing enabled?

The only workaround I can think of right now is to show all the results as text formula fields so that they can't be edited even if DLE is enabled, but that seems like a hassle. I'm hoping there's an easier way to create a customized "action" column.