> and again labor for this thanks to automation is likely less than $500.

What "automation" innovations have lowered the cost of unbolting a heavy transmission out the back of an engine and attaching a new one??

As best I can tell, the process has been unchanged in a workshop for nigh on 40 to 50 years at this point - it's humans with wrenches and a car lift. I want to see this shop that will swap me a trans for under 500 bucks too...