Just to close out the thread. The remanufactured throttle body aka ETA also aka TA cured the problem. New part in and no limp home mode etc. The part was significantly more than they quoted the first time but still about 400 less than dealer price (maybe they quoted me shop price next time I order from them I'll have a shop order it).

Pointers for someone in the future;
replace the rubber mounting sleve under the air mass flow. If its been ther for 10+ years its hard as a rock and you'll have to break it to get it off anyway. On the same vein replace the 3 piece vent tube that goes from the valve cover to the ETA. It will also be hard as a rock and you wont be able to seperate the joints. Tie a loop in a string and use that to hold the throttle return spring in place after unhooking it. I also replaced the vacuum line that runs from the back of the intake manifold past the ETA out the front and runs around to ignition components (I believe) it was incredibly brittle and shattered. Given that there are a bunch of other vacuum lines that I think I will replace as preventative maint.

Thanks for all the help
Paul