This is a direct update to the immediately previous post.
Apparently there are two competing hardware systems, but little means to evaluate which is better. We found a provider who uses a less common system which I had not seen in my previous research. It does use stronger magnetic fields, in case that might be a good thing.
Earlier this week I had my second of two "evaluations" with the provider. This one was with the actual MD who owns the practice. It was two hours of intense questioning, more thorough than most psychologists or psychiatrists I have seen. It all felt pretty casual at the time, but afterwards I was exhausted. I still have paperwork to do, and they still have to get my history from other providers and work things out with insurance, but it looks like I will be doing this thing.
Daily treatments five days a week for several weeks. Just showing up to the same place at the same time day after day is going to be difficult for me. That's kind of why I don't have a job.
I am far less concerned about the treatment experience itself, and certainly less concerned than they expect me to be. In both evaluations, I had to interrupt long disclosures of risk and accompanying assurances of safety to assure the provider that I had done my homework already.
That's enough about that for now. Not hopeful of positive results, but glad to get on with it so I can either be surprised, or move on to ECT, Ketamine, or final defeat.