Now that all's well that ends well, I hope you don't mind hearing that I had to chuckle at the visual of you performing the Evel Knievel/cowboy walk with a warm trickle going down your leg...
That being said, it sure seems much more common than not to question anything and everything these days. No longer can you rely on suppliers of ANYTHING to be competent, correct and complete.
Here is an example of incompetence that entered my world today...
When I purchased my Bushtec trailer last fall, I applied for the state required license plate. The application asked the question of whether you preferred the full size or motorcycle size plate. I chose the motorcycle size plate. Of course, the state sent the full size plate. I filled out the appropriate paperwork and returned it (along with the full size plate) - and the state replaced it with the motorcycle size plate. In today's mail, I received the renewal for the plate - or should I say plates. The state sent me a renewal statement (and bill) for both the full size and the motorcycle size plate. So, I called our state's customer friendly DMV. Of course, there is a form I can fill out to cancel the renewal of the full size plate - but they also would like me to return my full size plate (that I no longer have - because last fall I had to return the full size plate before they would send the smaller size plate....). Bureaucracy then ensued - catch 22 at its best.
Long story short, I told the nice lady that I would send in the renewal for the motorcycle size plate - and throw the renewal for the full size plate in the trash. And if they could not figure out how to correct their multitude of errors prior to next years renewal, I would again send in the renewal for the motorcycle size plate and throw the full size renewal in the trash - and so on and so on for as many years necessary....... She tried to explain why I should not do this - but then the phone mysteriously went dead....