FWIW, that plate isn't purely cosemetic/dust and does not slip off. The hoses are clamped onto it directly, and it has no cutouts/etc.
Hose clamps weren't as tight as they could be for sure, at least 1/2turn maybe full turn on one of them. I did check the box seam and looked up under the dash as well as I could with a flash light, no other signs. Just squirts on the floor.