So far, the PCATS RF module is working flawlessly, grafted onto a factory tuner board.
If it continues to behave (fully expected), then I'll remove the extension headers,
and work out a way to install it permanently much closer to the tuner board.

Doing this doesn't look too bad. All of the pins except the final four should line-up
nicely with the holes on the tuner board, and some short wires can be used to
connect up the final four. All unused pins will just get nipped off with some cutters.

None of the ground tabs will line up, though, so some extra grounding work will
be needed -- just some sturdy solid-core wire soldered from the tuner board holes
to the protective can on the RF module.

The can will also have to be nibbled away a tiny bit where it intersects a tall
component on the tuner board, and overall it won't fit as snugly as the original.

But with luck, it will all go back into the same tuner box.

So.. if anyone else wants to undertake such repairs, all you really need for
parts are some of Patrick's surplus PCATS RF modules, if he has any left..

Cheers