I saw a broacast on Swiss television the other day where they claimed that if your WII's IR emitter dies on you, you can just replace it by putting two small candles on top of the television! like the small candles they put in restaurants to set the mood.

When the candles are burning, they produce visible and also infrared light, which the Wii peripheral can detect. It's waaaaay cheaper than buying new IR emitters.

Just make sure that young children do not tip them over and set the house on fire.

I haven't tried it personally though... but it might be worth the try.

Thomas