Oh Di.
That's some pretty serious stress for such small beads. How frustrating! Do you have any fiber blanket to lay down on the bottom to maybe try and keep more heat in? Don't know if you could get beads in that door with an inch of fiber down though.
I agree on the design. Those collars never made sense to me on any model. Paragon isn't the only ones who sell annealers with collars.
I hope they get back to you.