Thanks for the comments.
I read this entire thread before attempting to contact their phone help, so I am aware of the workarounds suggested. So, yes, any potential USB or SD card impact, the firewall and other security settings were all vetted.
I am also aware of the 60 day warranty. My purchase was in December, so that was not on the table.
Anyway...I tried again via the call chain, managed to get an escalation agent on the line the second time around. I argued two primary points. 1) The fact that I've been a client for more than 10 years, and 2) The fact that, while I can't "prove" only two installations, neither can Intuit "prove" five installations. In this case, the question about customer service comes into play. While the customer may not always be right, if you cannot prove your claim of 5 installations, the question becomes how you want to treat your client base.
I was given a new code.
Still comical and problematic from an overall perspective, but if you can get the right agent on the line, it is possible that you will be accommodated.
