[Leica] Non Lecia help needed

[mcintyre at ca.inter.net (Jim McIntyre)]

Fellow LUGers,

Although this question rightly belongs on the NUG (to which I unsubscribed
to many, many months ago) I am posting this question here because, well, you
folks are smarter (in general) than the Nikon folks.... OK enough sucking
up.

I had the unfortuanate experience of dropping my D70 with my 80-200 f2.8 AF
lens onto my ceramic tiled foyer floor (try saying that three times fast).
Aside from the the incredible feeling of stupidity, and the large dint along
the front of the barrel, the lens is "askew". I brought it to a local repair
shop in Ottawa, and they decided to send it to a Nikon repair facilty. The
verdict: no parts available for this vintage any more. I bought it used last
year, so I don't know how old it is, but it distresses me terribly to think
that this lens is now a giant paperweight. Does anyone have any suggestions
as to what I can do? I figure the lens is worth about US$500, so any options
would have to be weighed against that. I just hate to see good (not great,
like Leica...) glass go to waste.

Thanks in advance....

jm