Well, I finally broke down and ordered this thing today off Toy Palace. It's been at the top of my list for nearly a year, and after months of diligent searching I feel confident I will never see this on eBay. That alone is practically unbelievable.
I got a small discount as a new customer, but it's still brutal financially. The shipping alone is half as much as the item itself. Still, as a diehard completist this was a mandatory pick-up.
Will bump the thread when it arrives, but it will likely be awhile.