busted sunroof :/

[e28forever]

ok, so as of christmas the sunroof in my car busted, the cassette is jammed, (it got stuck in the open position and i had the local BMW shop get the sucker closed). because replacing these ridiculous things is costly, $800 last i looked and they aren't getting cheaper. what im looking for is an alternative solution that would cost me less in the long run (a sunroof that wont break/get stuck open). i have come up with two solutions so make me happy both of them are fairly decent, but i wanted to get someone else's opinion before i do anything

1) erase sunroof, weld the sucker shut, have it professionally painted over to look as though there never was a sunroof.

2) replace the sunroof panel with a glass panel or use my current panel and have a simple mechanism that allows me to open the panel (not slide back, just pop the back up) and close it.

having laid out the two ideas, i know that one or both may cost me more in the short run, but im looking for a good long term solution that i wont have to worry about in the future mechanically or financially.

thanks for any input!
-R