Screw this VIN thing and messing around with the dealership...
I just went and bought one...they're cheap...$4.31 list...but I still plan to send the bill to VWoA...
Parts guy said they turn harder during the installation "set" than the old ones and have a resistor inside (possibly to minimize the arcing?).
At any rate he also said that the instructions (as you can see are included) recommend lubing the tip...you can't make this stuff up...
-CKB