I'm in NC as well, and pretty much have found myself in a similar situation over the last couple of days. I'm only showing a P1445 now "stuck closed", and haven't hit the limp mode threshold yet. I don't think I've even encountered the vacuum suck sound at startup that I've seen and heard on...
I was in the same boat as you. Ordered a key off Amazon, plus two extra fobs. Took the uncut key to a little local locksmith shop and they took it, no hesitation. Four minutes and ten dollars later -- all set.
Total spent on two fobs and a key was probably $55 or so.
