I don't have my Mystique anymore, but wanted to comment on this because I am a Ford tech. I do still hang out with the Chicago people once in a while too.
What you are seeing in Brad's photos is a re-designed repair kit that was meant to prevent any future repairs. It is supposed to be a permanent fix for this problem. There are clips installed in the defroster vent area under the black plastic piece, and the larger black part is actually metal. Ford will not replace dashes anymore unless the dealer determines that the dash is warped severely enough. The dealer would need to call Ford to request a new dash, and Ford may have an inspector come out and look at it. It is much more difficult to get a new dash now than it was a month or two ago. This change went into effect as of the beginning of June.
As for any damage done when installing this kit, that is the dealer's fault and should be repaired by the tech that did it for no charge. I recently installed that kit on a '99 and had no trouble with any parts breaking during removal. Some techs are more careful with trim than others.
