How did I convince myself to do this?

[abscate]

Have a real good look at the recirc air door flap motor and plastic linkage while you have that HVAC out

If you can buy it cheap new I would replace.

They do break and are hard ( impossible?) to do in car.

I learned something in this thread. The fresh air damper motor can easily be removed without – removal, it secures to the bracket with a single T 15 torxs, and can then be slid out to the rear of the car working through the glove box.