What would Scarpa (and Marmot) do?

take the free rentals if you send your boots in for repair, I wouldn't expect the shop to do anything more.
i often ski my old lasers in tour mode, as you can drive into the cuff way more. the fwd lockdown angle is not very aggressive on that boot. not sure if the spirit 4 is similar.  you have paid for and deserve a fully functioning boot from scarpa regardless, but try skiing in tour mode, you might find you like it.

Sounds like Marmot has made a good-faith attempt to keep you on the snow (as they've done for me on several occasions). Take them up on it and send the Scarpas back - I'm guessing it's a simple mechanical fix.

Looking for a sport with 100% gear reliability? Backcountry skiing's not it, every piece of gear sometimes has its bad moments and with boots it usually involves hardware (buckles, rivets, walk/ski mechanisms). It depends on how hard you are on gear, but I'm pretty easy on my stuff and I've still had my share of failures.

You could always buy another pair of boots (maybe a lighter spring/summer boot) so you always have a backup . . . then of course you need a lighter, skinnier pair of skis . . . Dynafits . . .

Lol, yes, Ski and Boots Acquisition Disorder is something that I have not been through yet

Got a call today: Eric at Marmot was able to fix my boots without sending back - the boot had got so much forward lean that the metal tongue would get stuck on the edge of the hole and that was causing the problem. He said if it happens again, Scarpa would certainly warranty it. I hope it doesn't, though.

Eric also cooked the boots for me. (Last time I had ski boots was in the early 1990s, and they were bought used so this was an entirely new thing for me). I think they fit great. Let's hope they hold up.

Anyway, Marmot, and Eric especially were great! Kudos. I got the Barryvox (I was planning on this in general) today from him because I was so pleased.

Cheers
Ivo

ps Right, so now I could use Trabs with natural topsheet, stiffer AT boots with more aggressive lean, lighter and softer AT boots with more articulation. Another pair of 150-160 Rossi fun sticks or something similar, why not 168 Stocklis, let's throw in a pair of Gotama in the mix, maybe some Iggies, what am I missing...

I'm surprised that the more forward position locked out on one of your boots. IME, the forward ski position in Spirit 3's and 4's is mushy, i.e., no forward stop. The more upright position locks out fine. It's a design flaw, ASICT.

Are you talking about Eric R., the guy who is about 6'2"? If so, HE IS THE MAN when it comes to AT. He was also the first American to purchase a pair of Dynafit bindings. He found them in France the day they hit the market in 1993, when a wealthy female Marmot client had flown him over in a private jet to stay at her villa in Chamonix. Had she been a better powder skier this thing might have worked out but lore has it that he was with a Swiss woman named Una by day three who was a much better skier. Eric is a legend (and total Casanova).

Wow!

He must be the same guy, foot size 14 too

Hope he doesn't mind such details shared here - it's certainly fun to read...

Cheers
Ivo