In regards to "D-ring release won't lower windows" it might not be the header switch.

If you have skinny fingers you can activate the header switch by hand without disassembly. On my car the switch works fine but the D-ring doesn't lower windows and I have all sorts of other issues. "Windshield header switch" is a common broken-record response on this forum but I have never seen any evidence of one actually failing, being replaced, and fixing top problems. Not a single time.