Thanks Boosty. I try to keep it all in perspective as just another part of life. I gotta tell you that I don't know how you do it, but I haven't had to put a second or third trans in yet.... It may get to that point some time...

To answer your question, Windshield_time:
The only sensorsthat would tell the car what gear it'* in would be the VSS and OSS. I don't know for certain, but I would assume it reads the gear based off output shaft speed vs. vehicle speed and factoring in which shift solenoid combo it has at the given time. The last part with the shift solenoids may be wrong, but I don't know exactly how it does it.

I don't KNOW for a fact that the chip was burned the correct way, but the man who did it is extremely reputable. I could question his work and send the chip to get burned again for good measure, at the cost of $30 or $40... I didn't touch the car last night, but if the weather breaks and it warms up again, I'll head back out to the grind.
As a notice to others who like to roll under their cars, let me say that creepers were never intended for people with sorta long hair...