So, happy ending to this story. I was able to get in touch with a plumber and he knocked it out in an hour flat. No leaks, great flow, and the best part - only $300. Amazing how just cutting the fiberglass, pipes, and lining everything up saved me $800-900.
Thanks all for sharing your stories. Definitely made my day, and some highlighted how simple my issue really was. In the future, calling this guy for repair work.