BTW, local dealer quoted me $450-500 for the handle and said it needed programming. Not sure if they were giving me a line on the programming part. Price didn't seem that awful.

It would be interesting to see if a handle off eBay would swap over.

I am pretty sure no programming is required. If I am not mistaken you dont have to remove the door panel to swap the handle. I have one silver handle available from my pats car. However as with any control module failure i always disconnect the battery overnight and sometimes the problems go away.
There is a capacitive sensor on the inside of the handle, which is pretty much a coil. As I said when some current goes thru it it will warm up. But that would be low current, probably under 1amp, 2 at most. Current in excess of 5 amps that could possibly blow a fuse would melt the handle or make it painfull to touch.

You have a CA handle from a parts car you'd be willing to sell?

Yes, of course.