I found this NOS MLPS on ebay that's identical to the original. Most people cut the 8-pin connector off, and splice on a 12-position (11-pin) to use the newer MLPS, because this one is no longer in production. But I didn't feel like cutting & splicing 8 wires; especially not in such a cramped area, when this is already an improved-design MLPS. I had already adjusted the shifter, so it was quick & easy to install & align the MLPS. The first few drives showed no more symptoms of surging at startup, or taking off in a higher gear; but those symptoms were VERY intermittent before, so I'm still not certain that this is the cure for both of them.
IF THE IMAGE IS TOO SMALL, click it.

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I may cut the old MLPS open later to see if its problems are visible.
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UPDATE: After a few months with NO reoccurrence of the previous symptoms (surge at startup; starting out in 2nd), I'm calling this fixed.
4 years later - it never happened again, so the MLPS was certainly the culprit.