[tim]

The original tremec shifters work fine but the TKO does come with a shorter throw shifter than the regular 3550. As for aftermarket shifters all of them are 2 piece, the shift mecanism and the stick. You can remove and interchange shifter handles between any T-5 or Tremec 3550/TKO.
It was mentioned that the PRO 5.0 shifter came with positive stops. They are useless. I contacted TTC, the US distributor for Tremec transmissions and they said that the 3550/TKO have internal stops and to run the stops on the aftermarket shifter back away from the stick. They also said that installing an aftermarket shifter would void the warranty. After we determand that my transmission was no longer under warranty they said that most people from what they could tell were using the PRO 5.0 shifter but they would not endorse it.
After I got use to the new shifter I really like the way it performs. As for accelerated wear on my syncronizers, well that's why there brass so they will wear and not the steel gears.
DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!!!
It's a lot more fun that way.
tim