Not sure what the problem is with those, I have many and they work fine. DVI-D has Analog RGB, HSync and ground on the on the cross section of the connector and VSync on pin 8 (upper pin closer to the cross connector.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_InterfaceI've used many over the years and actually my display I'm using right now is via the monitor VGA connector with a DVI-D to VGA adapter and running at 1920x1080. The monitor has a DVI-D input too but I reserve that for when I need to repurpose my monitor to kits that have HDMI outputs, and I have an HDMI to DVI-D adapter that only uses the differential pair signals.
Just think of DVI-D as a hybrid that supports both TMDS and analog signals. One thing you won't find is HDMI to VGA without some supporting hardware (or VGA to HDMI for that matter).
I've have hacked (literally) some of those apart when I'm in deed of female VGA connector:
BTW if you take one of those apart it's an ordeal because they are totally potted with some translucent plastic stuff, so it's probably easier to purchase the vga connector if you can wait for it to arrive.
Edit, it's a straight wire connection from the analog DVI-D pins + analog ground + HSync + VSync to the corresponding VGA pins, nothing inside other than straight wires.