Bob, before I went to the expense and hassle of a frame swap, I'd seek out the opinion of a experienced welder.
As far as the Mass RMV goes, good luck.
I've found that if you walk in and you don't like the response to your request, get back in line and ask again.
Different counter rep, different procedures and that changes depending on how their day is going.
Hi Bill,
That's pretty much what I expect from them.
I've also considered repairing it, as you said. Big BF had a repair for that area, primarily for a twisted member. I can't imagine what it takes to twist that piece, it's pretty stout. I think his repair involved cutting out the damage and welding stubs in on each side, then bridging the span with new steel. He had a good tutorial available,but with his passing, his website has been cleared.
I've seen a couple of wrecked frames with front end damage that would be ideal donors for that cross member.
I'll look around here for a good welder, do you know anyone up your neck of the woods?