For the net.archive in case someone has a similar issue:

From the snowbelt... I encountered my first dead rusted part.  

The lower pin of the left (driver's) side rear hatch lift cylinder on
my 2001 Outback rusted and sheared a week or so ago.  It's a little
bolt with a "ball" on the head that snaps into the socket of the
extension arm of the pneumatic lift cylinder.  I think the cylinder
finally bound or became so hard to compress that it sheared the aging
rusting lower pin.

subarugenuineparts.com replacement cost for the cylinder assembly was
$68 and included the pin, the cylinder and the upper bolts.
Installation was trivial: involved just a 10mm socket on the two upper
bolts (or a large phillips head screwddriver), and a 12mm open end
wrench for the lower pin.  Good as new.

While I was at it I put some white lithium grease on the other
cylinder in hopes of keeping it running smoothly and avoiding the same
fate.  It looks pretty rusty too, but we'll see.

Carl, thanks for the tip on subarugenuineparts.com and encouragement
to email their customer service folks (cus that OEM parts website
SUCKS--can't find anything the first time it seems).   I got a prompt
response from the woman who handles those requests and all went
smoothly.

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4
Chicago, Illinois USA