Thanks all. This dash had a plasticky coat of polyurethane or some other material they had cracked and alligatored all over the surface. That is why I ended up having to do so much sanding. In one part the veneer had already been damaged, but in other places I clearly let my equipment get away with me and I made things worse.
Knowing my level of patience and ability, I’m likely going to order a new dash. Geo, if I do, I’ll swing by and give you my old one, but I’m not sure it will be much of a “gift.“ More like a challenge.