Definitely feels flukey to me.
I did the remote workaround - no problems.
I tried the 6.0.1 installer on a 2008 R2 box this morning - no problems.
So far as I can tell, I could only make it fail on one 2012 box.
The 6.0 installer worked on that same box without issue.
It's a puzzler, but if no one else has seen it, then I'll bet a dollar it's something to do with that particular box.
Thanks for the help!