Well, after two sets of emails elicited no response from either Sameer or Danny Staffieri , I come home today to find Glo #4 has arrived.
The return packaging indicates it's going back to Ingram Micro Logistics, who I believe handle all their fulfillment in Canada. There's no note, no "Mark to the attention of", just the usual instructions that came with all the other units. So I don't know if this was Kobo Customer Care who initiated this, or Danny, as was promised. If I had to guess, I would say the former.
Worst case, this winds up in a pile with all the other returned units Kobo gets.
I will try one more set of emails to Sameer and Danny, asking again for direction. I'll wait a couple of days, then off it goes.
Sad that communication on this is suddenly so lacking.