A833 side cover swap question

Easier maybe but Not smoother. But I'm a 200 pounder so when I put some muscle on my Shifter, it does what I tell it too. The cover is the smallest resistor to shifting.

I guarantee you that on the street there is as good as no difference, I've been driving various Mopar 4 speeds since 1970, almost continuously. If you put me in identical cars with the only difference being the covers, I seriously doubt I would be able to tell the difference. Well maybe I could, but would I care? no. But if you already have the parts, well then .....
Btw having been a Mopar shifter for 50 years, I can tell you that the rooster comb is better at keeping the trans in gear on deceleration, after it begins jumping out, because of abuse to the coast side of the clutching teeth. Second gear is always the one to go first. This gives you a couple of weeks to make the fix.