Between your blackout and the_viola's 3am choice, maybe bad lighting is the secret.

Ouch, that hurts... No wonder you're asking for a deposit now.

Missed emails are the worst for that.

Honestly "cost over two grand" for a wiring harness sounds high to me. Those parts can be found used or from a lower cost supplier, and the labor shouldn't be that crazy unless it's a really packed dash. I'm a bit skeptical it's always that serious.

Label each peg with the pad's grit so you grab the right one fast.