If I were you, I'd look into the possibility of simply getting another 12" powerbook with a broken LCD, and then do a swap. A screen swap with a later machine might even be possible, and the later, post-867MHz machines were much more capable. I have the last of the 12" powerbooks (1.5GHz) and I think it is just a great little thing, but the second last version was nearly as good (1.3GHz, I believe). They were also very reliable.

One day, I suppose, I will have to let it go, but not just yet....

You'd need to check to see whether a screen swap would actually be possible, as that I do not know.