i guess this would be my last post in this thread until i find the guy, but the church i volunteer at and the kids of the patrons there love the switch so much that they've offered on my behalf to pay the owner full price for the system to keep it once we've found him, on the condition that i continue to bring it to service and let the kids have their fun after service and bible studies. they're all excited to come to church now for the first time, and the pastor loves seeing the kids want to be there; even if it is just for the after-service rec activities. so i guess i'll be a full-time switch owner, soon enough (so long as he accepts the payment, which i assume he will because he'd only logged about 15 hours of playing time on here before losing it). just a cool development is all, and a happy ending for now. thanks anyone who tried to talk me through this situation and help me out in regards to working this system and who've helped with tips on how to return the switch to it's original owner. this seems like a situation now where everybody wins (or will win, eventually), and i couldn't ask for anything more than that. my blessings to you all!