BFL, I think it was a new Xantrex inverter the mimicked the functionality of a Victron, although I could be slipping also.
@Oldman--you've got a track record of paying for quality, and you've got a great excuse for hitting for the cheap seats. I say do it!!
Regarding what to do right now, I would Amazon in a cheap, temp Samlex which I would keep as an aux unit once I got my V or P. Then I would fire up some hard cost analysees regarding who does what to whom, and then order in the result. Why give one-time money to Exxon for a trip home, when you can fix this in style on the road? Just sayin: Victron!