All,
After doing some brainstorming, it just hit me that it's likely that the d+/d- lines going to the Dual Strike chip are not functioning/connecting. This means the DS is still functional (because the forced mode is responding), but the USB data is not getting to the DS, thus the reason it can't "see" anything. This would cause no auto-detection, no firmware updates to be possible.
I think it might be a bunk 4066 chip, in that case Aaron will have to send it back to me for a quick turn around RMA, but if anyone has any troubleshooting ideas chime in.
-Clayton