Here is what I did... it turned out to be yet another magic Z moment!
I finally pulled my steering lock circuit breaker (09 sport). The steering wheel doesn't do its pre-start dance anymore and the car starts with no delay.
I must say getting the fuse box out was more challenging than I had envisioned reading all your posts, but was definitely do-able.
Also I broke one of my little plastic trim rivets.
and dropped a pocket knife down into my engine bay which came to rest on my lower plastic engine cover. getting that out was harder than the cb pull as I was at a buddies house. (no jack stands to get under there) I had to drive around a crappy part of town looking for a high enough curb to prop up a wheel so I could wiggle under the car to unscrew my cover.
A couple very helpful prostitutes came up to ask if I was okay and one offered to join me under the car. I don't think she was too good with tools (not the kind I was trying to employ anyhow) so I politely refused, finished my business and did my best ever 0-60 time departing the area!!!!
Woo Hoooo! Personal best 0-60 pull and a successful engine control mod all in one night.