Silly spare replacement?

Preface: I consider the unholy doughnut an affront, an insult after having spent serious money on a car... I understand most people never change a tire in their lifetimes, but some of us who live on the fringes of civilization (by choice) get to do so quite regularly. My wife used the Prius (07 loaded touring) yesterday and destroyed a tire 90 miles from home. Tire dealer called, looked online, and came up with a replacement 195/55 R16 two weeks out (for a fairly reasonable $120). Evidently the touring model is widely available before its replacement tires are. Then I called dealers and found they have them in their system- for betweeen $203 and $233 (!). I am familiar with supply and demand, and what the market will bear, but this seems a bit cynical on Toyota's part. At any rate, I bent to the ransom demand and will be driving again by Friday. My question concerns that miserable excuse for a spare, the lowly doughnut, that the manual doesn't even address the inadequacies of. No warnings of limitations of 50mph/50 miles in the book, but they are on the tire. So now that this little beauty has defiled the looks and function of my beloved for over 90 miles, am I supposed to shun, destroy, and replace it with a new insult? Is it a disposable item, replaced by both wheel and tire, and how much money is involved? Having had to employ the services of this little joke I don't believe I could make myself pay for a replacement of such a counterfeit. Or is it time to find a steel wheel and actual replacement tire that will truly fulfill the function involved in the concept of spare tire? Where might I find a steel wheel- not Tire Rack as they have not "measured" them yet. I assume the plastic tray will have to go, and much of the extra space for handy doodads. Opinions? Who has rejected this phony, and are you satisfied with carrying a real full size spare?

 

Well I assumed that a full size tire would fit if the plastic tray were removed but...it's 1/2 inch too small-aarrgghh. Tempted to get out a big soft hammer and have at the sheet metal and make it fit. Wonder what's behind? To the rear there's definitely space. In front it must be the battery, sides shouldn't be a problem. Any opinions on taking a big hammer to a nearly new car? Really it would just be 1/4 inch on each side. Certainly agree with you Daniel, what nonsense this is to not be able to carry a real spare except by giving up major cargo space. My last car was an audi a4 avant, and the first thing I did to it was modify the space so a full spare would fit. I'm afraid those who care about such a deficiency are in a small minority and we would never get listened to by corporate types, but good grief this wouldn't take much to design it so there were options for us out here in the hinterlands.