Lumia Repair - Including note to ask for repair only?

[Windows Central Question]

I'm considering sending off a Lumia to Microsoft for repair, I have an issue with my 1020's camera.

The phone itself has sentimental value, due to personal reasons, and whilst I'd really like the issue resolved, I know that sending it off for repair might mean a different, refurbished device comes back. With my prized and near-mint condition 1020, I don't like the idea of risking getting another second hand, worn and just different one back. I know it may seem stupid, it's just a phone after all, but I really would like to keep that exact 1020.

Do you reckon that including a note with the device, asking for repair only if possible and no replacement, (with the reasons explained as above and a request for the fixed/unfixed phone to be returned), would help ensure that regardless of whether the fault is fixed or not, the exact same phone will return? Am I asking too much of them, should it just be fixed entirely on their terms? I genuinely don't know.
Has anyone included a note or similar before and had their requests met?

If anyone could help me with this, it would be an enormous help. Thank you.

 

[ratsttam]

It's a phone, and not a loved one. Unless there is special meaning to the scratches and dents on the body of it (your proverbial notched bedpost?), it's likely that a couple days after a replacement, you'll be OK with it and not even notice any difference.
Support will also likely wipe it out first thing, so even if you got the same exact hardware back, it'll be like a loved one returned, with amnesia...
Couldn't hurt to leave a note for them. They may honor it, they may not.