The one problem with removing the 1/2 inch of copper at the LFA full wave loop feed point is this straight section of pipe no longer supports itself as one long stiff pipe.
The solution is to replace this missing rigidity with a non-conductive material that is also very strong.
The quick answer was to consider garden plant stakes. Good thing I read the fine print though since I found out the stake gains its strength not from fiberglass, but with a conductive metal core.
Oops… that was close.