anyone else's crooked, and does it make a huge difference?

Yes, it makes a difference.and IT WILL SNAP OFF if you try to bend it...:D

so, its supposed to be completely straight, like parallel to the engine?

yup....perpendicular

just checked a friend's se-r, and his is bent too(both bent towards the front of the car)

crap, i could be at 13degrees instead of the 17 we set...