There is no PBP3\MPASM-MPLAB_Setup anywhere.

PBP_MPASM_Connector.exe is in MPASM_suite.

Ran that with no difference in the outcome.

Dammit, I just will put up with the extra mouse-click required.
Thank you so much for all the hair pulling. I just hope you don't lose any more sleep over this.

Shit, these things are great when they work as you expect & want them to, ain't they?
I s'pose I'm just getting too picky in me old age.

Thanks again Henrik.
We will undoubtedly run into each other again, the next time something crops up, if I don't switch these damn things off permanently first.