Yup, that was me under a different name. This story has a happy ending, got a recovery file from someone as a reaction to this thread, got a programmer, and it now works.
I am extremely grateful for the responses, and if it’s okay with you, I would like to post the info on why it bricked in a follow up to Bob’s next Q&A. Given how much of a cost the mod, it’s worth publishing.
Thanks again!