OK the latest episode of everyone's favorite fun game, burn $350! Anyway, hopefully that's not the outcome here but I think I've hit pay dirt. Now the question of what next.
I paid more attention to the flat cable this time. I tried to pull the connector out of the mic input board but gave up on that. Later, the traces pulled out of the connector and I pushed them back in, hopefully all is still good there. First photo.
Then, unscrew the usb connector. Second photo.
Slide switch in the orientation it needs to be for re-assembly. 3
Bluetooth plug out. 4
Screws that need to come out. The one in the middle does not, however there is one hidden to the left of the one in the lower left corner, that does need to be taken out. Also the two on the far side that are in the open and more obvious. 5
Now grab the black plastic case by the edges and lift out. Use care to keep the flat traces to the mic input card intact. 6
The buttons stick with the case, but are not fastened. They can be laid into the plastic case, need some way to hold these. 7
Behold the giant chunk of metal that we don't need. 8.
It can now be put back together with or without the frame/plate. You can see 9,10, what it will look like. I am leaning towards cutting off the heavy legs of the frame and re-assembling. Quick napkin calc shows this will reduce the weight from 3oz to 1oz of (what feels like) steel. If its aluminum then it would be 1oz down to 1/3 oz. But I'm thinking closer to a QP than a lid? So probably steel.
Next steps? Cut off the uprights to preserve the structural and electrical purposes of the case? 3D print in ABS or some plastic and use a foil lining?
I used the post office scale to weigh the frame. 5.3oz! OVER a quarter pound of steel protecting this bit of goodness.