Re: Raising the seat for free
We are about the same age and have been reclining seats in cars since the '60s. Healed up from having a Monte Carlo hood ornament embedded in my back (had to sleep on the floor for about a month but that was a few decades ago).
With 40-45 decrees slope on the seat I can almost completely relax and go for many hours. Less and I feel it after about an hour.
Put the wallet syndrome down to the exceptionally narrow seat, plan to have a good upholstery shop recontour more like the Reatta bucket.(whole car seems to be designed for very small people).
Did note that the early road tests all mentioned things like leaving the driving to someone who was 5'7".
BTW 180 I tend to be very gentle when modding & plan to remove the trim plastic intact before changing the crossbar. Looks like the two plastic pins just pull out & think I have seen replacements in the HELP section at the local FLAPS.