Not tire related. More like incompetent tech related!
Technician and manager both come out to talk to me. Asked if I recently had parts of steering system replaced. I told them the story (for those just tuning in, see my original post).
The tech asked how I even drove home! Said it was as if no alignment was done at all after rack & pinion and other parts were installed. The wheels were pointed in different directions. Which I suspected after doing a visual. Anyway, it was corrected and it no longer pulls to the right. The manager was really nice. He even suggested I bring it back in a week so they could inspect it again just to be on the safe side..
My new go-to alignment shop!
Just can't believe the initial and second alignment were bad and the second place I brought it to where they acknowledged it was bad, made it even worse!
3 times a charm.