Hey Earl,
Sorry, I don't mean to be mean or nit-picky, but maybe it was just the wording.
"Then I upgraded to a Taylor 354ce - the first non-dreadnought that they made in twelve strings around 2003."
As far as I know, Taylor had been making 12 string Jumbo guitars for some years at that point.
My introduction to Taylor guitars was my 1999 355 12 string Jumbo, bought in it's birth year. While I do tune it down a semi-tone to 'D#' (as I do with all my 12 strings), it has never given me any problems in all the years I've had it. Just a great guitar. I often play it in alternate tunings. It can do anything, including whatever it wants, when I get in the zone.
It has seen a few more relatives join my 'Heard' since then.
Be well and play well,
Don