update and a moment of silence for my KDD-20, please...
welp, went back to Habitat ReStore to check on the KUDI2I as a replacement machine/upgrade, but just couldn't pull the trigger, as further inspection revealed the racks were mismatched (the lower rack was a different color and didn't fit properly), the lower wash arm was heavily corroded, and there was a large amount of broken glass in the bottom of the tub. Just didn't feel right.
I did see a Whirlpool DU930 that looked suspiciously like my mother's machine - and my mother is the only woman I know who actually praises her late-model dishwasher - sitting nearby, looking like it had never been installed. Called my mom and confirmed that yes, it was the same model, and soon found out from the manager that it had been removed from someone's lake/getaway condo ("wrong color/not stainless") and was barely used, if at all.
$35 and a day later the DU930 is installed and purring through its 3rd load of dishes. I realize it's a poor substitute for the KDD-20 - I don't think we'll ever love an appliance more! - but if it's anything like my mom's, it'll be fine for us.
Thanks for all your help and input.
Anybody want I should pull some parts from the old one??
Estea