I don't know how anyone can comment on the ride of your car without driving it. Suspension feel is a completely subjective thing. My Fathers '72 Continental is way too soft for me, and now he hates his Fivehundred because it's too firm. To me it actually feels a bit soft to other Fivehundreds I've driven.
The steering pull over bumps? now that is a problem. I didn't read your whole thread, but I would seriously check the sway bar/sway bar end links. one of the fronts may be bent. As far as the bushings being preloaded as mentioned by another poster here; that is a good theory, but I would bet against it. Any dealr tech is going to try and get this done as fast as possible. There is no need to loosen anything other than the pinch bolt in back with the vehicle on a hoist to get the strut out. The suspension can be moved enough with the help of a fellow tech. To loosen the rest of the suspension would be a waste of time that a tech just isn't going to do. That being said, take it somewher else and have them do a very close inspection for bent or possibly damaged rear control arms. You never know what some gorilla is going to do.
The steering pull over bumps? now that is a problem. I didn't read your whole thread, but I would seriously check the sway bar/sway bar end links. one of the fronts may be bent. As far as the bushings being preloaded as mentioned by another poster here; that is a good theory, but I would bet against it. Any dealr tech is going to try and get this done as fast as possible. There is no need to loosen anything other than the pinch bolt in back with the vehicle on a hoist to get the strut out. The suspension can be moved enough with the help of a fellow tech. To loosen the rest of the suspension would be a waste of time that a tech just isn't going to do. That being said, take it somewher else and have them do a very close inspection for bent or possibly damaged rear control arms. You never know what some gorilla is going to do.