The only thing I would think at this very moment, and not to underestimate you or anything, but did you do anything about the hole in the intake where you pulled the CCV hose? Pulling unfiltered air into the engine=very not good...
I would guess that the increase in engine operation may be simply that you are getting more air into the intake, which most likely means that one of your breather hoses or the elbows have become clogged... The one towards the back of the engine compartment, if I recall correctly, has a smaller orifice, and can notoriously get clogged with oil-slime...
Be careful if you take them off to clean, they snap off VERY easily... As far as the dealership goes, this part was actually NOT insanely expensive, as most dealership items are...