What you did by unplugging the MAF was telling the engine computer there was an open in the MAF circuit and the computer substituted a fixed value for the MAF. The engine went into limp mode, that way instead of the engine dying on the freeway it keeps running so you can pull to the side of the road and have AAA to brighten your day. Are you using a K & N air filter ?

 

nope, OEM filter.

come to think of it, i didnt drive it or even rev it up while MAF unplugged, i just made sure it idled ok then shut it off. are you saying it wouldn't have been driveable at any other speed besides limp/idle while MAF unplugged?

 

You can drive it without a problem with the MAF disconnected.

 

well, after cleaning the MAF, the MAF harness contacts, the throttle body harness contacts and changing the air filter...it runs fine and dandy, dare i say seemingly smoother than it was. (and i should note that not only am i a glass-half-empty guy, but i am a "glass-knocked-over-shattered-on-the-floor-broken-glass-embedded-in-feet pessimist/skeptic so when I actually think it feels like it's running smoother, it probably is!)

thanks for all the advice, folks!