So in case anyone reads this in the future:

I finally replaced this bulb. The LCD is lit all the time, and then when you turn your headlights on, it dims a bit, and is controlled by the dimmer ****.

 

was it difficult? im just about at the point where its pissing me off enough to fix haha

 

Not bad at all. Drop the tilt steering wheel down. Pull the two philips screws out of the cluster hood. (if they are even still attached to anything) pull it forward off of the clips at the dash near the windscreen. Disconnect the electrical connectors for the switches on the left and right side, and the goofy connector wrapped in foam for the dimmer ****. Remove the gauge hood. Remove four philips screws, two on each side and flip the gauge cluster up, you can leave the wires connected. Use a small flat blade or needle nose pliers and give the old bulb 1/4 turn and remove.