Should I replace just the intermittent transmission part, or the whole transmission? Also, is there harm in waiting on the repair and continuing to use the machine? Should I fix it right away? Below are the details of what the machine does.

The "normal" cycle appears to be fine.
Tried the "casual" or permanent press cycle. Here's what it does:
Fills with water
Agitates for several minutes
Drains without spinning until maybe 4-5 inches of water are left. Pauses for almost a minute.
Starts filling with water again, even though there was 4-5 inches in it already.
Agitates again
Drains for a few seconds until about 2/3 of the water is left, then starts spinning until the rest of the water is out.
Stops.
Spins again with an empty basin.
**The second time it filled with water was BEFORE the rinse cycle. So the machine filled a total of 3 times.
Filled with water for a third time.
Agitated.
Drained completely without spinning.
Spun while rinsing, as normal.
Finished the cycle.
GENTLE CYCLE runs as I described before. YES it does drain and spin at the same time. Stops. Then spins again with an empty basin.
Fills for a second time.
Agitates.
Drains completely without spinning.
Then spins while rinsing and completes cycle.