fragile defroster dash grille trim

Got my '04 LS back from some service and noticed the defroster grille dash against the windsheild had a crack in the middle. I stated fiddling with my fingers around the grille and the vents just broke off, each peice if I wanted too. The thin plastic strips apparently don't hold up very well to I guess temperatire changes. I broke off some remaining ones just to make it appear symeterical. It's $100 for a new trim piece. A flaw in material selection by GM.