Success! I managed to swap the linkage bars so that now I've got the "new" transmission body and my old shift linkage and shift cage. A word to the wise; the two linkages were less than half an inch different. I didn't notice when both transmissions were on the ground. Then it would have been less than half an hour to change everything over. Switching little bits once the transmission was installed and the transmission jack back at the rental yard took hours longer than it would have otherwise.

As for dragging the shifter on the rubber flange connecting transmission and driveshaft: check your shift cage. I noticed that the four bolts holding it on are seated in soft rubber bushings. There's actually a sleeve/washer that provides a solid mounting surface on one face, and a washer should do the same on the other face of the mount. If you don't have both washers, the cage will sag rubber on bolthead.