Trouble Using Filters...

I have a report generated through a number of recursive CETs and would like to add a FILTER parameter for the user to select on. (Using Parameters in the query will not work because recursion cannot be limited at the outset by the parameter).
The values to be selectable are:
Sprint 1 - R 1.0
Sprint 2 - R 1.0
Sprint 3 - R 1.0
Sprint 4 - R 2.0
Sprint 5 - R 2.0
Sprint 6 - R 2.0
...etc

I want the report to display only those Releases (R n.0) which the user specifies, eg:
Release 2 would select all data with R 2.0 in the field.

Using Table properties-Filters for the field works IF I use "=", as:
Expression: Operator: Value: An....
=Fields!SprintName.Value = Sprint 4 - R 2.0 or
=Fields!SprintName.Value = Sprint 5 - R 2.0 or
=Fields!SprintName.Value = Sprint 6 - R 2.0


Issues:
1. I am unable to use Like (I could specify Like '%- R 2.0%' and have all Release 2.0 displayed), but it does not work with any of the syntax I have tried. Using only a single expression row, - R 2.0, '%- R 2.0%', "%- R 2.0%" all fail by displaying NO data. CAN Like be used? And what is the syntax?

2. I do not have any control over the And/Or column -- it is always greyed-out, and inserts "or" automatically if the Operation is "=", and "and" if the operation is "Like". How do I control this paramter?

3. And, most important, how do I get user input to the filter field, such that If I enter Release 2 from a drop down (?), I can display the appropirate data?

NB: VS2005 sp1/SQL2005 sp2
Assistance greatly appreciated....