Well, we'll see.

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I bought the whole kit.  No reason not to do so.  It was less expensive, and is probably due.  At worst, I will have spares.  If, most likely, it will all be needed.  As well, I did purchase a pump.  It isn't what I had hoped it would be, but it will do.  I may run a short hose to a 7 gallon bucket, and put the pump down in that.

As to a main shutoff inside?  Even more difficult than anticipated.  While the pipe is galvanized, it is of a very irregular outside diameter... 7/8ths.  They don't carry anything in that size.  Which means, even if I can get the whole pipe off, getting fitting for it might... be difficult.

I don't want to mess with that unless I am ready, with a solid plan in hand, and parts bought, all ready to begin trying.  Or getting a plumber in.  Get a quote.  Let them know, up front, that the pipe is irregular of size.  It might not be an issue for a pro.  Or it might be just as difficult for them as for me.  If I have a plumber in, and get a few quotes, I will also see about getting a series of sediment filters.  With the r.o., I don't need other things filtered out.  But I would like from say thirty then down to half or one micron... through two or three filters.  Why?  For one, the reason I am back to doing dishes in the tub is because the kitchen faucet has clogged on the hot side, again.  No reason to hit that all over again, because it will just clog back up, until/unless the silt, dirt, else, gets filtered.

I did stop at In-N-Out.  Just got two doubles.  On lettuce.  Next time I am going with no cheese, and no anything else.  Say, three singles?  With no sauces, ketchup, mustard.  Onions, tomato, and lettuce only.  The cheese is made as much from oil as real cheese, the sauces are probably soy based, or worse if that is possible.  Live and learn.  Still, better than with fries and soda.

I need a short break, then I'll get the water turned off outside, get a bucket down there.  Look for one of the shorter hoses, get the pump set up, and... get to it.  A break after that is all arranged, before I start.  Then the draining process, perhaps a break after that.  Drying out the cavities and letting that all fan dry overnight.  Then, tomorrow, putting the parts in, and making absolutely sure it is dry in there.  Filling it, finally, then attempting a reboot.

Even with the pump, parts, and tools, I have spent less than probably a third of a new water heater.  No guarantee I won't still need one.  But am learning a great deal.  It might be worth a total write-off.  If I have some hope that won't be the truth of it.

Oh, I called in about the parts.  The mostly wanted my data.  I pretty much, if nicely, told them to blow.  They took it pretty well, so I am guessing they have become familiar with this.  I was able to get enough information on the parts to make sure what I was getting would work.  Thanked them for their time.  Let it go.  They eat data as much as else.  They don't sell the parts by kits, I didn't bother asking how much the parts would be.  I am guessing each part would cost as much as the whole kit from H.D.  And, who knows if it would have fit.  Can't trust corpos anymore, at all.  Union workers, at this level.  They don't give a squat.  Both the info attempted taker and the tech were women.  But, they didn't speak English, plain, native.  But... a woman tech?  No thank you.  She'll get it wrong just because her last boyfriend wasn't nice, which... is why she was chasing him.  And why he dumped her for her little sister, or mom, or... whatever these days!  Gah!

Anyway... so be it.  A bit of gaming and I rest up?  Uhm... turn the water off, and take some things down stairs, first?  Yeah, that.  Then a break.  Later.