I did pull the power panel and the monitor panel to see what I could see, which wasn't much. In the case of the monitor panel there was a bundle of wires to wiggle but that's it. As far as the control panel, there is a large door above the thing that let's you look down on it and touch and pull wires and connectors all you want. You don't gain anything removing it forward. I unscrewed one of the lights from the ceiling and was going for another when my wife told me to cut it out.
The coach is under warranty and you've warned me to not tamper too much or they might blame me. But, as I type this, I remember the radio is on the same circuit as the panel so I might sneak out there tomorrow and pull it.
I do kinda like the life support idea, too.
Eric