I hear you Greg.
However, the current shift issues are minor and are directly attributable to vacuum control settings. Disconnecting the vac line to the modulator produces the requisite firm shift that you don't get with the vacuum present. This tells me that it's one of the following:
1) Incorrectly adjusted proportioning valve (highly likely given that every MBZ auto transmission is different)
2) Excessive vacuum to the proportioning valve (possibly caused by a PO's fumbled attempts to clean soot from the vacuum amplifier orifices)

Sloppy shifts with the modulator disconnected would indicate that there was some problems with piston movement. In which case, I'd be thiking seriously about the Trans-X. In addition, I saw the valve body and pan innards on this transmission when I changed out the filter. It was clean.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.