2010 Ford Ranger manual transmission.

For me to turn my key to the fully off position (so that I can take the key out) I need to push this tiny manual release lever on the ignition.
I guess I broke that lever off somehow.
Replacing the ignition lock cylinder seems easy and cheap enough, except I have one those chipped keys (I hate those things).
I am afraid that having to mess with the chipped key makes the process a huge and expensive ordeal.
I have to go to some specialized locksmith, and he has to reprogram everything, or something like that.

Is there any way I can get this working without having to take out a second mortgage on my house? Maybe I can bypass having to push that manual release lever, or get a non-chipped key to work? Or rig something somehow?