Well, following Scott's directions, I was able to disassemble my unit this evening. Found the source of the skipping: A big hunk of greasy substance was sitting on the laser head rail. I was able to wipe off the substance with a little dexterity and some Q-tips. Put it back together and went for a test drive - no skips. The clue that there was something wrong with the head movement was that it was really only skipping toward the end of a CD, rather than the beginning, and that it seemed to do it more when I turned right and started from a stop. It would hardly ever do it when I shook the unit itself.

Just a tip for those willing to take their units apart. You may save yourself a wad of cash.

-Malcolm