The wife's life insurance would provide flexibility in respect to paying for serviceable 2nd hand parts.
I have tried repairing the instrument surround without success - BUT someone here did manage it and I cannot for the life of me recall what it was they used, I seem to recall a very impressive photo of a repaired surround.
In your case, if the damage is confined to having had the tabs that secure the lower cover pulled out, perhaps you could super-glue them back in?