A 12-year old, presuming he or she is fully cognitive, should be able to ride in the front seat without the airbag. I know that literature says 13 year's old (something suggests that age was picked signifying teen age maturity or adolescence
). At any rate, the science behind the age, 12 or 13 years old, with regards to airbags, is that a child that age will sit properly (seat-belt restrained) in the front seat (erect, his/her back against the seat back, a proper distance from the dash, etc), thus allowing for proper fxn of an activated airbag in the event of front end collision. What they should make is driver side kits for the people who drive two inches away from the steering wheel!
I feel your pain, though - some of my frustration with the 987 involved the crap dealing with the dealerships!
Brad Roberts on this forum, apparently knows the mgr at the Ontario California Distribution warehouse - maybe you should PM him and see if he can muster up some help (and a seat/kit) for you.