Wow, it's been two years since I installed this... doesn't quite feel like that long ago...

Anyway, either the resistance has decreased with use, or I am simply used to the shifter by now... either way, I still don't love it, and it tends to dislike reverse for some reason (doesn't want to slot on the first try... STILL... after two years of daily driving). Not sure if it's the shifter, but the problem didn't arise until it was installed.