I have no issue at all with the spring in neutral.

My personal technique for the 2-3 shift is to push the shifter to neutral with my palm, allow the spring to center the shifter directly under 3rd (exactly what the spring was designed to do), then push the shifter straight forward into 3rd (still with an open palm); a "push-pause-push" movement. The shifts are smooth, fast, and accurate. I believe the most common error in missed 2-3 shifts is when drivers attempt to make it a "straight line" from 2nd to 3rd.

 

Yeah, I use the same method

Going from 2nd to 3rd I put my open palm on the gearstick at a 7 o'clock position

My hand is behind the stick, not on top of it

By doing this the shifter finds its own way into neutral

Like you I spent sooooo long adjusting the B&M in my car

I think it was an improvement over the the 996 shifter, but compared to the 997 one I think it's now junk

I know it's all personal preference though

Did you try, and dislike the 997 shifter, or have you stuck with the B&M?

 

Very true.

I've driven the 997 shifter in other 996 Turbos. For my tastes, it is not short enough in terms of throws, and is not solid enough in overall feel, especially at the end of each gear (gear stops).

The B&M is not perfect, as it requires some effort to make the 2-1 downshift when the transmission is cold (no issue when the transmission is warmed up). But once warmed up, I couldn't ask for anything better.