I installed mine without cutting the front tow hooks, but admittedly there’s a tight fit/access point for each one now between the plastic skid plate and how the steel bumper is shaped to hang over the space where the tow hooks sit.
So if someone wants to use the steel bumper D shape hooks, what should be done?
You’re referring to these right?
Yes, these. So removing existing recovery points would make it ideal, but it's not a dealbreaker, correct?You’re referring to these right?
If so, nothing has to be done. These sit on their own brackets on the caps covering the mounting holes that don’t affect the mounting of the bumper itself.
I personally wouldn’t take the recovery/tow hooks off at all, simply because that’s what the plastic skid plate connects to and sits on (unless you have a plan to upgrade that part also). It’s a bit more finagling with a second person to line up the bolt holes with them still in place, but it’s certainly possible.
other than a little finagling, is it basically plug & play; remove bolts, pull old bumper off, put new bumper on, screw in bolts? Or are there any other necessary parts to make it work?
If you have parking sensors you might need new mounts.
Finding those parking sensor retainers was quite the chore, and boy did they take their sweet time getting to me.
I am trying to keep it straight but there is always something SLIGHLY off 
sorry to be a pain, but do you mind elaborating on the harness routing? What are you routing it through?
It's only a pain if you try run it like it was oem or reuse some of the clips. Otherwise couple zipties and you can zip it up however you want to.
