Thank you for your help. I don't have anyone cycling savvy that I can ask that wouldn't just try and sell me a new bike...

I actually had an AVA stem crack on my first road bike at the plug slit and I almost turned right into a parked car on a busy street. I still fell though and it sucked. This was 45 pounds less and decades ago too. So I'm a little antsy about this. Other than that I've never had a stem break.