Hi Jeff,
I have been very pleased with the Tohatsu and have discovered everything you have. Why you have to put it into forward to release it for tilting I don't understand. I bought the 6HP model and got the dual fuel version, even though I only paid the single, external tank price. Si I have an integral tank and a separate tank, which is quite useful.
On the BayCruiser, the power leg really fills the outboard well. If you just tilt it up, without turning it on its side, you can't use the rudder. When you turn it on its side, it only just fits in, but it does. If you leave it down, it slows the boat and makes it very hard to tack, so it has to be tilted up.
I would be really surprised if the propeller is held on in a different way on the Mariners, as the engine look absolutely identical to me, apart from the price. I committed the sin of storing it on the wrong side last week, but found that it started fine the next day, which was a relief.