Just had the A-pillar changeout done on my '02. I was expecting the new pieces to be softer, as you say, but they're just as hard. Different shape. I don't have any idea what the change accomplishes. Perhaps they don't shatter into throat-slitting jags in an accident,
The work done by my dealer was fine, the pieces look fine, and if I didn't know they were replaced I probably would never notice anything different.
