+1. Should have never pulled away from the shop like that. Take it back and tell them to fix it... Something is messed up! Even if they forgot the bump stops, the car wouldn't be sitting on the bump stops in a resting state. They definitely jacked it up somehow.
I don't have any input on your current issue, but if you suspect that the hub is somehow out of round, then you should at least measure it with some calipers before pressing in the new bearing. At the very least for satisfaction to know that it's perfectly round...
...You stand by your assumption, yet your equation proved you wrong... I always got better mileage on premium as well. Even before getting the MP3 ECU upgrade.
Something like this? ALL the time! You can fit 8' 2x4s in the cabin all day long. 10' material needs to go on the roof. Plywood goes on the rack just fine, as does drywall. Probably the most weight I've had on there is 4 sheets of 1/2" drywall plus 10 or so 2x4's (I couldn't find a pic of that)...
Just fix it. I just fixed a knocking rod in my P5- cost all of $250, and that includes 2 (TWO!) royal purple oil changes... Running like a top now. Just cause you have a rod knock hardly means it isn't worth fixing. But hey- it's your bread; do as you please...
It makes me wonder why he went through all the work... Why not just cut out the opening? Perhaps the inside of our housing doesn't have "ridges" to hold the filter in place? Maybe it's not as easy as just cutting out the opening (though I doubt that's the case).