Whenever I have had this problem, I am able to take apart the Microcontroller and fix the pins. You should be able to take the top off of the Microcontroller with a Phillips screwdriver. Make sure that the switch doesn’t fall out and the LED’s don’t get bent.
Once you have the top off, you can pull the pins of the power connector out and try to fix the metal tabs that are supposed to latch the pin into place. I usually use a pair of needle nose pliers for this. If they are broken, or you can’t fix them, you can jam the pins back into the socket and hot glue them into place. I usually use a paper clip to put the pins back into the sockets. You can also hot glue them into place if you where able to fix the tabs and want extra strength.
If you hot glue the pins make sure that you do fill the pins with hot glue such that you can’t get the battery plugged in. Also, try not to get hot glue on any of the electronic parts and remove any of the little threads of hot glue. I am not sure if hot glue would do anything to the electronics, but I don’t want to risk it.
Note that if you want to compete in the Vex Robotics Competition, this will technically make your Microcontroller illegal.
You might want to specifically ask this in the Official Clean Sweep Q&A, because I know that this is a recommended repair procedure from the VEX repair people. It doesn’t come up often, but it’s probably worth asking before scrapping a $150 controller.
How would those inspectors even know if you fixed the pins? If you can’t see it, I would think you’d be all right as they’re not going to open every microcontroller to see if there is modification. shhhh. You never heard it from me.