"The GOP seems to warm-up to them [for nefarious purposes remains to be seen IMO]..."
Exactly my friend.

I am leery of them as are
you.
See, that's the thing really.
If the tea party was just the kind of Libertarian-type organization that they originally professed to be, then I would have a lot of respect for them.
I wouldn't necessarily agree with them, but I would respect their point of view.
But they seem to be being subverted into an arm of the GOP, and honestly, I can't see myself trusting 99.9% of the members of the GOP.
If they had combined with the Libertarian party, or formed their own 3rd party, now that would have been interesting, but as it is, I can see the movement dying out in a year or so, once they discover that the GOP politicians they helped elect have betrayed them.
Now, I"m sure you'll take my opinion with a grain of salt, as you should, since I am of the opposing camp, but, for what it's worth, that is my honest opinion.