At this point, I feel obliged to take the new freehub installation as the shop (one of 3 lbshops I utilize) recommended. Yet its better if I try to fix the 2 yr old (thats 2 *winters*-old) freehub, at least accdg to my conservationist values.

Well, it can't hurt to try though. I say that tongue-in-cheek as I am friggin scared to try most of my own repairs.

The shop said 3-5 more days before the freehub arrives. I'll talk to the local 'do-it-yourself' lbs to see if they'll help me try Rocky Rode's method. If they agree then I'll buy something from them, quid pro quo.