When you did the oven cleaner thing, did you remove the turbo from the engine?

It might be worth removing the turbo and spraying some PBblaster (or something) inside and on the linkage. Then try to work it by hand to see if it frees up some more.
Also inspect the shaft for excessive play.

The best replacement turbo is a NEW one from Garrett.
The Sasquatch one seems pretty good but its a fairly new release so no idea about longevity.
If it were me and I needed a turbo, I would get the Sasquatch.

thanks guys. I kinda feel that with the miles, if I am going to take the turbo off, i will just replace it instead of cleaning and putting back.
hopefully it will hold up until after the holidays.

Finished installing the Sasquatch turbo on my project tonight. As it's on a lift with good access as needed from above and below, nearly everything was straightforward, ......except one. The one big (little) thing that should be improved, is the mounting method of the turbo oil return. It would save potentially many hours and thousands of curse words, if there were studs installed with loctite red, and nuts / lockwashers to fasten the drain mounting flange. Got'er done with the provided equipment, but only because I'm too darn stubborn to give up and go get the studs I was wishing for.

I've noticed the one idparts carries has a flexible braided section, which would make the job way easier

I guess if you know from the start what needs to be done in order to get the holes lined up...

BTW, any tips for removing the old return line gasket from the bottom of the turbo? I got it done with enough time, patience, and some gasket remover, but I figure it might be helpful to the OP if they end up pulling the turbo and cleaning the vanes. Not much space to get in there between the turbine and compressor housings!