Calls are recorded.
I'm on the phone with one now and he seems highly intrigued. I want to RMA it, but I don't want to wait.
He's offered an RMA. I declined and asked if modifying the product slightly (lapping-sanding) would be acceptable and that I needed specific and explicit permissions for that noted and recorded. He said he'd check, and after a few seconds on hold, he said "No, I'm sorry sir. Technically, that is 'physical damage' and we can not allow it. We can still do an RMA now or at any point in time if you feel this is a big issue, we'll even throw in expedited shipping."
I am still declining that offer because I want to enjoy my card a bit more before I have to send it out. But he saw it the picture and agreed that that was certainly an IHS defect.