Yeah, it's a cliche at this point. BMW USA's response was so unsympathetic that I think they are ok with it as well. I certainly wont ever do business with them again.

Even if the plug was improperly gapped from the factory (or dropped on the floor) the tech would have to miss that and the fact that the car ran worse when he finished than when it arrived. And that the computer said things are worse.

It's either malicious or so incompetent that there's no practical difference.

I talked to the tech on the phone before finding out about the plug. The tech definitely knew I was having trouble. Interestingly the tech did admit it would be possible to bend a vale doing the media blasting. I guess that's why service writers exist to "manage the customer".