Joe:
Hang in there - I've never paid more than $5, and I bought one only two weeks ago.
One source I would try if I were you is vac repair shops. They often have some used parts around, and if you ask nicely, they will usually try to help. This is how I got the one I just bought.
The only thing you have to worry about is the condition of the bristle insert and the rubber ring inside the brush (the part the wand goes into when you turn the brush around to use it as an upholstery tool). The insert is replaceable; the old one pulls out and the new one snaps in. Inserts are about $5-7.
The rubber ring is sometimes torn or cracked from long years of use. SuperGlue will bond it back together; you'll never know it was damaged.
eBay is the easiest way to find obscure stuff, true. But as with all forms of convenience, it's the most expensive, most of the time.