NMK, I like your new location for your tablet. Hope it works better for you in that location.
Karmis, you would NEVER consider those 'silly' if you ran thru the mud covered trails we have here in PA. I am definitely getting mud flaps for my 800 Trail, and also doors to cut down on mud/rocks flying into the cab as much as I can.
Berzerk1, we've had a few posts here regarding that exact same issue. I think this deserves a proper backyard mechanic fix for it, but short of a rubber 'boot' to fit around that linkage, or maybe a plastic flexible square 'skid plate' to deflect some of that mud, I have nothing else to offer.