[I've done the google/googlegroups searches, FAQ readings, etc.  I also
posted on esato forums -- no leads there yet]

Bought a r520m off eBay. Data functions are great, but the earpiece (ear
speaker) seems to be blown. With volume at 8/8 you can just *barely*
hear something. at 8/6 and below it is dead silent.

Firmware r4a008, if I'm reading that correctly. I assume this is a
hardware problem. I did some searches here and elsewhere and haven't
seen a germane discussion about it. The "earpiece" test in the service
menu has the same results. You can just barely hear a rising tone in
the earpiece. I don't have a headset to test with.
The mic/speaker loopback test doesn't appear to do anything at all.

If you play back a voice memo you can barely hear it and then it POPs
loudly at the end, so there must be some amplification left somewhere.

I *really* don't want to have to buy another phone, but I will if
needed. I have heard that you can open the phone with a set of Torx
drivers but I doin't see how.

Any thoughts before I start trolling eBay for another one?