It would seem that the cables are soldered to the end wires of the
tube? Is this common (I was expecting some sort of 'push-on' fitting)?



That's the norm, I'm not sure if there's any special considerations with
soldering them, I would certainly practice on the dead tube first, and
try to do it quickly with the heat on it for as short a time as you
need. Tin the wire first and the wire on the tube, and then just stick
them together.

Also I remembered I couldn't remember where the wire that connected to
the 'remote' end of the tube ran? I mean, did it run in the cavity
with the tube or outside of the inside (if you know what I mean, it
wasn't visable til I pretty well got the tube out completely)? I think
I remember the two thin wires (from the inverter) going through a
small slot into the TFT assembly, the short wire pretty well going
straight to one end of the tube and the long one running alongside the
tube up to the other end .. shrug?


That varies, often it just runs along the back of the panel and tapes
down. I wouldn't try to cram it in the cavity with the tube.