My second transmission wasn't faulty after all. (Which restores about 1% faith back in ZF). The dealer had to replace a faulty ECM which wasn't allowing proper communication between the engine and the transmission. Although it took them the better part of 2 weeks to get the part from Germany, all appears to be well for now. Why the original ECM failed after the replacement transmission was put in is beyond any of us involved in this particular repair, unless someone can shed a little light. Maybe incompatable software (old ECM/new trans??). Who knows.
As a good will gesture, AOA offered me an additional 1 yr/12K warranty extension, which I'll gladly take.
My wife thinks I'm completely nuts since I practically wanted to sleep in the car the day I got it back, but some people just don't get it!