New valve body part number for infamous transaxle problems at twice the cost

NEWS FLASH!  For 1990's Saturns (certainly '95 plus or minus a couple
years) that shift into reverse slowly or slam when they do, or for
Saturns that may not shift into upper gears when warm (often setting a
diagnostic trouble code and lighting the Service Engine Soon
indicator), the most common solution has been to replace the upper
valve body.  The old upper valve body part number was 21005813 and
commonly cost close to $200, but some dealerships that offered their
parts close to cost once sold them for around $100.

A couple months ago Saturn withdrew the old part number and is now
offering a successor, part number 21009428, but it is the entire valve
body, upper and lower, complete with actuators.  But hold onto your
hats--the new solution costs $500-600!!  Individual actuators are
still available at around $60 apiece, and the bus plate at around
$120.

It seems that Saturn is still wrestling with the infamous transaxle
problems and, except where actuator or bus plate problems can be
cleanly diagnosed, will now force a replacement of the whole valve
body to help assure that all possible causes are covered.

Anyone have more information on this development, or have any
alternatives to offer in light of it?

--John