[happy1]

Other brand's OEM paddle kits will be attached to the steering wheel, and will use spare conductors in the clock spring cable. You would need at least 3 conductors to have good design of the signals for the two paddles.

The Ebay FG paddle kit that was for sale earlier, were two paddles fixed to the steering column cover, and they almost covered the instrument cluster. In other words the paddles didn't rotate with the steering wheel.

That long mechanical stick you suggested in the photos does look very scary / dangerous. Having a long metal arm near the steering wheel would be unacceptable. Any sharp metal objects attached to the gear selector, near the steering wheel / airbag etc, can't be done like that. The Ebay paddles in front of the speedo were bad enough, but small, and probably not a danger in itself.

Engineering a paddle kit that integrates well with the FG would take quite some effort. First to find another clock spring unit with more conductors, and then to install for example the BMW motorsports paddles, which alone cost a fortune to purchase. Is there any other Fords that have OEM paddles? Focus perhaps? Any other US models?
Cheers,