What are the restrictions to swapping out a 96 PCM for another year such as a 95 or a 97? Can another year'* computer not be reprogrammed to acommodate the 96'* specs? What, in regard to the transmission, is preventing a PCM modification? It would seem to me that the lack of a reprogrammable PCM will severely limit the other mods that can be done to this vehicle.

there is nothing for the 96, it was the first year of the Full OBDII, SeriesII. That in the combo of the 4T60 means there is nothing

I'm not sure but try and contact DHP powertuners and see if they can do something for you.
Just because a vendor dosen't sell it dosen't mean it'* still not do-able.
ZZP sells built 4t60 trannys but it'* not on there site.
There using a DHP on a 95 camaro.
Worst come to worst your stuck with your shift points and you can either just change your air fuel ratio w/ a miniafc or change air/fuel and spark advance with a translator plus

I know the aftermarket PCM isn't really an option, but what I wanted to know was/is could the PCM be swapped with another year, and reprogrammed for the existing tranny?

Nope, as far as i know, a 98+ bonnie pcm can't just be reprogrammed to your tranny and swapped in.
Did you e-mail DHP or Zoomer? no hurt in trying, if your not gonna let me know, i will. I'm curious to see if DHP can do anything.

Yeah, '97 is the first year everybody offers for PCMs. Unless I'm misunderstanding your question, '97 is flashable.

Perhaps this could be an option, then? Has anyone else researched this angle yet?