Update:
Just to let you all know, I am still keeping track of reports that are posted here and updating the original post, I'm just not interested in getting into arguments with people who want to minimize the issue or somehow vilify me, so I won't reply to them.
I did hear from my contact on Ricoh USA this morning. The exact response was: "We have not received any information from Ricoh Imaging in Japan regarding the mirror-flop issue. I will let you know when we do."
I know that fcrespo posted earlier in the thread that his K3 had been fixed under warranty. Though his ticket didn't specifically address the mirror-flapping, a lot of parts were replaced. It would be interesting to test his camera and put it through it's paces to see if it is really fixed. At least according to Ricoh USA, there is no direct answer to the problem (yet), if there will ever be one publicly.
And let me address their warranty service directly. I know some people have suggested I should have had my camera fixed. I had my first one replaced and that had the problem too. I was also not advised to send it in for repair since they didn't know what was causing the issue. And lets not even mention that their repair service, at least in the USA is notoriously slow as slugs. I actually had a lens replacement approved in March for the dreaded SDM failure... a well known issue... and sent my broken one to them on 3/24. This is for a replacement, which should be much easier than fixing. I still don't have a new lens back yet. So you can see why some people might be hesitant to send a new camera in to be fixed, for fear of being without it for weeks or even months, such as was the case for fcrespo.
That's it for now. All along I have encouraged everyone to contact Ricoh directly even just to report their problem. I've posted this link before, but here it is again. I suggest everyone who has had the problem use the form to report the issue and include in the notes a link back to this thread, to back up your experience with other users who have had similar experiences.
Ricoh Imaging Support
To date, I still have not had one issue with either of the K5-IIs bodies I bought. They have performed exactly as expected, and flawlessly... the way the K3
should have performed. For all of those who think I caused the problem, or that it's "normal" or that I was outside the normal specs of the camera -- regardless of all the other reports from other people -- well, it seems the K5-II and K5-IIs can handle it all just fine.