I finally got all the bugs worked out from my install. Thankfully, none of the bugs were from the shifter itself. It's a quality piece, and it seems, after driving with it for about a week and a half, that it'll stand the test of time. The problems i had were due to the shift linkages being all messed up, and the shifter cables needing to be reset. 5th and 6th gears were difficult (5th) and impossible (6th) to enagage. After resetting the cables, things have been 100% better.
The torx issue, i didn't have a big problem with. The key slipped once or twice, but after seeing the warning in the directions, i made sure to be very careful. Installation was straightforward, and i am very pleased with the quality and the quicker shifts. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a true adjustable short shifter.
EDIT: Oh, and CFM's customer service in my case was great. They were more than willing to help out with advice time after time when my shifter was giving me fits. Thanks again!