I'm back.... So so close yet so so far. I finished comparing all the files on the install_txt.html. So far I've only found one file that I need to merge with an existing (/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php). I found a few files that weren't listed as overwrite or new (five are in the same folder I mentioned above, and then includes/language/english/extra_definitions/checkout_process). Since none of them were modified by my template, I'm just going to upload them and if they exist I'll overwrite and pray.

A couple more notes for the errata page:
/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_checkout_shipping.php
is really tpl_checkout_shipping_default.php
/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_checkout_success.php
is really tpl_checkout_success_default.php
and that same folder holds another file not mentioned on the install_txt.html:
tpl_order_status_default.php

All simple things except the last: the install_txt says that one of the files to upload/overwrite is /includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/tpl_header.php and that file does not exist in the unzipped pile of files. I'm assuming it's different than the other tpl_header.php that is specifically mentioned farther down the list?

thanks again
Joe