>> My darling wife keeps saying I should get a high quality knob
Perfect. We're all set. Now we have great explanation for women of where the money goes. The essential missing part of the write up.
>> Anyone know if there are colour options? Lovely mod, but not in a beige interior perhaps?
No color options, only leather type.
I have "swing grey" interior. Close to beige. I would say black leather matches climate control color and knob metal matches polished metal of gearbox trim. IMHO should match any interior since gearbox trim is always chrome and climate is always black.
Old knob (sorry, I just can't call it "change lever attachment"):
