Chiming in late, but for what it is worth, I've generally had pretty good experience with Apple fixing stuff out of warranty for a reduced rate, or, in the case of things like power bricks, for free.
Apple charges a premium for their stuff, and they throw up barriers that frustrate some DIYers, hackers and engineers. This is in part explained by the fact that they aren't just engineering software, or hardware, or a device embodying the two, they are engineering a total user experience that starts before you buy, continues after you buy, and, if they do it right, never ends, because it carries you through repairs, upgrades, etc.
Yes, some of the stuff they do, like MagSafe negotiation, is to protect their margins on accessories, but it is also there to keep you within territory that they (usually) take responsibility for.
So, its probably too late now that you've torn it apart, but in the future, its worth contacting support, or even better, dropping by an Apple Store.