Gear selection is a hell of a lot better since replacing the bracket. Just need to replace the ball mechanism to stop so much slack whilst changing gear.
Have not read it all mate, but mine deleloped a lot of slack too, it was a simple bush thing in the engine bay area that had wron out, on the arm for the geasr shif mech.. i dunno what its called, anyhow Ben victors made me a new one and that solved it. took 5 mins to fit..
not sure if your prob is same but just throwing it to you