Just an update --
Before I called Energy Suspension the other day, I sent an email to tech support. I received a reply yesterday from James. He reiterated Energy Suspension's position against heating the boots to aid installation. Instead, he recommended using silicone spray and a lot of elbow grease. Just to humor him, I'm gonna give it a try.
I asked about the boots being "cosmetic" and not forming a seal, and he said the other tech was likely misinformed and that they are most certainly supposed to form a seal. He touted ES's quality and said their boots are as good - if not better than - OEM boots. A few minutes later, I received a reply to the conversation with Tyler now involved. Tyler apologized for giving wrong info, and I commended both of them for the follow through and resolution. They certainly turned it around on the customer service angle.
