I ran it by the boys at the LBS and they said the same thing. Knowing it's near the end of its life, I don't want to push it and risk having it give up the ghost completely when I really want to be able to ride. They quoted me a very reasonable price (considering) for a new set installed with new cables and housings, so I went ahead and ordered them. Then I can tinker with the old one with no time pressure, and if I'm lucky, have a rebuilt spare for when the new one goes (although hopefully it'll last me longer than 5,000 miles!!! )

I ran some WD-40 through it tonight to hopefully get me through the next few days until the new ones come in - the LBS recommended some other solvent they have (I forget what it was called) but WD seemed good enough for now.

I don't have enough experience with the LBS to know how much I should trust them, and one of the guys I ride with doesn't have a super high opinion of them, so it made me feel a lot more confident to hear them say the same things you did. Thanks!!!