A few years ago one of the members on another site made replacements out of metal which I have been using for years. He charged $25 each and lost so much money he stopped making them.
They consisted of a rod, the diameter of the tabs that break off with a flat piece of metal wrapped around the rod. Basically it was the same shape and size of the plastic one.
So if you are handy, or have access to a high school metal shop (do they still have those?) make one or have one made.
Once made the trick is to install it!