@andrewgamlyn. Did you try my suggestion above. I had exactly the same problem as you and like you tried everything. This did work. I appreciate the final update has still yet to be finished, but it worked for me.
If you haven’t installed it, I recommend the spark-cli ( https://github.com/spark/spark-cli ), and dfu-util ( http://dfu-util.gnumonks.org/)
If you’re on windows you’ll need some drivers, but on Mac and linux they’re ready to go: https://community.spark.io/t/tutorial-installing-dfu-driver-on-windows/3518
Once that’s all going:
1.) connect your core via usb
2.) hold down both buttons and release the reset button, keep holding until your core flashes yellow
3.) update your factory reset version:
spark flash --factory tinker
4.) run the patch
spark flash --usb cc3000
5.) once your core stops flashing purple, and starts flashing yellow again, reload tinker
spark flash --usb tinker
6.) Plug your wifi credentials back in with:
spark setup wifi