I didn't read all 8 pages of this thread. (Wow 8 pages from 9am to 5 pm on the same day. You must have really hit a nerve... Get it,, hit a nerve.)
I too am sorry your wife got hurt but, I rarely remove my hitch. I use it every couple of days so it just stays in there. After banging my shin on it a couple of times I just learned to avoid it.
I have a buddy that left his in for so long we couldn't even get it out using a tractor. Just pulled the pickup backward.
They do make rubber things that go around the hitch to protect your legs if you hurt yourself on it a lot.