Ok, after yesterday at the dealer for about an hour this is what's up.
There is a replacement part number for the 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege, something like 0000-8m-c15. However, this part number is no longer in existence and as such is replaced by number 0000-8m-C09, which is the new Mazdaspeed muffler. So if your muffler is cracked, there is no way what-so-ever to get a new Racing Beat muffler. We even called Mazda NA to ask them. They appologized and said to replace with the C09 #. So there it is. If your muffler is cracking, which even the new Mazdaspeed on will do, go and get a new one. Tell them to call Mazda NA if they have to. My car is at the dealer overnight from lastnight getting this done. They didn't have time so they put me in a rental, oh the fun, until today at noon.