Hi Willfry,
For most hardware I would tend to agree with the opinions expressed, but I lean towards you when it comes to flesh hoops
"It's just a steel ring, right?" I mean exactly ...as long as you can find out the dimensions surely to god any halfway competent shop can do this.
Also I hear you about shipping and etc. re: getting stuff from the US ... I'm in Canada and its painful enough here at times.
Maybe search congalou's posts [for example here is one about making hardware]
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=8619&p=79547#p79547or maybe contact him via a PM ... he's in France, has had great success making and repairing congas and will perhaps have advise and or contacts for resources on the continent
Cheers