Here's the update you've all been waiting for.
I received the amp a couple days ago and unpacked it immediately. Yep, the back panel was pretty sorry looking so I set it on my bench without plugging it in. Next day I removed the back plate which required desoldering the speaker binding posts and removing what seemed like countless screws. Also had to remove the dac board as well as the balanced input board.
Next step was straightening the back panel. This was much easier than expected; wrapped it in an old tshirt and placed it between a couple 2 by 4s and whacked it with a 3 pound hammer. After a few fine tuning whacks, it's hard to tell it was ever bent.
Put it all back together, hooked test speakers up along with my iphone for source, plugged it in and turned it on and WOW, I hear music. Found some batteries for the remote and everything seems to work perfectly. Listened to it in my system for a good hour and a half last night and it sounds very nice.
All I can say now is THANK YOU Michael.