1st.
The suround that goes around the shifter on an automatic is actually very hard to get off. You have to remove the handle first, which requires you to remove basically all of the center console. There is a how to i believe somewhere, but do not cut the wires like it said. If you follow them back they just unplug.
2nd.
There is a place that crome plates plastic i found on the web. It will be $30 dollers to have it plated. Mine is currently on its way there now.
I have replaced my interior handles with crome also off of an LX. I figured with the crome daveb rings, crome pulls on the doors, the crome trim on my radio, the crome buttons on the shifter and E-brake handle, the shift plate cover would look great. Just little touches here and there.
And yes I got the idea also from my wifes S4.
I will post pics of it when it gets back, and then post the name of the place if the work is of good quality.