I friend of mine with a JDM Gallant blew open in intercooler pipe the other day. Instead of buying new soft ones he decided to make his own... except he doesn't have a welder, and was too cehap to buy U-pipe.
Instead he used copper plumbing pipe. Bought all the stuff at home depot and put it together last week. He drove it for a day and it worked great... then he belw his tranmission in half (I'm not kidding, he split the case) so I can't tell you the long term performance. I have to say, for the $20 in materials and the fact anyone with a hack saw can build it it seems like a MOD worth trying.
The added advantage of copper is that is transfers heat fairly well, so in theory it would be better than steel piping.
I'll try and find the post were he got the idea.
Maurie