Good luck on that one. On their release post, the AWE rep was adamant that the valve was not necessary and their system works just as well without it.
https://www.civicxi.com/forum/threads/now-available-awe-exhaust-suite-for-the-honda-fl5-civic-type-r.52308/post-868828
I wish Hondata would let you drop in for jailbreaks at their hq in Torrance. That's super close (I'm in Ventura County like you) and can get some good food while out there making the trip more than worth it.
Man, same here. My 7 yr old is over the moon about my DE5. We'll see other much cooler cars and I'lll ask him which one he likes better and he always says "daddy's car." I get such a kick out of it.