“So I went back to Discount Tires and instead of them doing Subaru’s AWD procedure of crossing tires (front left and back right swapped and ditto), we went left to right front and back, as this and other discussion groups all suggested.”
My 2002 outback manual states that the tires should not cross sides. They are only rotated front to back. Not sure there is a “Subaru AWD procedure.” Did you check your manual for this?