Something similar happened to me years ago. Red with a black top too. Hopefully you'll get a replacement soon. Being a soft top maybe a good thing as I believe they have been building really late reservations.
New brackets without the hooks should be available? I would want to keep the hooks in tact in case I put the original bumper back on for whatever reason. Maybe to sell or the mod bumper got damaged.
I've tried to activating a couple dozen times over the last 2 1/2 months and I always get declined within minutes. I doubt someone is pressing decline all these times.
Edit: Mine doesn't say declined, it says it is unable to complete the request.
I know it sounds stupid, but there is legitimate concern even beside any possibility of lot rot. I parked my nearly new '93 4runner in a gravel lot for about an hour one windy day and the whole side of my 4runner was basically sandblasted. Hopefully no one experiences that on their Bronco.
Week of 10/11 for a 4 door FE.
The only one I saw in the wild was the 4 door softy that Dave Smith had. Pretty sure it was their mannequin (blue window sticker from June) and I think they sold it as the last I saw it had plates on it and it's gone from their inventory.
Only the first time. I use a pick hook that is more shaped like hook and holds on better. There are special tools available also. I am very careful to not only not damage the o ring but also the filter canister. Picks are sharp and the canister is plastic. You can get the special o ring...