  We revisit the puzzle of $|V_{us}|$ values obtained from the conventional
implementation of hadronic-$\tau$-decay-based flavor-breaking finite-energy sum
rules lying $>3 \sigma$ below the expectations of three-family unitarity.
Significant unphysical dependences of $|V_{us}|$ on the choice of weight, w,
and upper limit, $s_0$, of the experimental spectral integrals entering the
analysis are confirmed, and a breakdown of assumptions made in estimating
higher dimension, $D>4$, OPE contributions is identified as the main source of
these problems. A combination of continuum and lattice results is shown to
suggest a new implementation of the flavor-breaking sum rule approach in which
not only $|V_{us}|$, but also $D>4$ effective condensates, are fit to data.
Lattice results are also used to clarify how to reliably treat the slowly
converging D=2 OPE series. The new sum rule implementation is shown to cure the
problems of the unphysical w- and $s_0$-dependence of $|V_{us}|$ and to produce
results $\sim 0.0020$ higher than those of the conventional implementation.
With B-factory input, and using, in addition, dispersively constrained results
for the $K\pi$ branching fractions, we find $\vert V_{us}\vert
=0.2231(27)_{exp}(4)_{th}$, in excellent agreement with the result from
$K_{\ell 3}$, and compatible within errors with the expectations of
three-family unitarity, thus resolving the long-standing inclusive $\tau$
$|V_{us}|$ puzzle.
