Maybe, but it's still the first place to check in the chain of possibilities.
IMO the next check would be the bottom seam on the heater box where the two halves connect together.
FWIW, that plate isn't purely cosemetic/dust and does not slip off. The hoses are clamped onto it directly, and it has no cutouts/etc.
Hose clamps weren't as tight as they could be for sure, at least 1/2turn maybe full turn on one of them. I did check the box seam and looked up under the dash as well as I could with a flash light, no other signs. Just squirts on the floor.
