Andria, my wife loved her isticks and CF4 until I got the IPV D2. it's just about as small as the CF4 but has changeable cells. Maybe look at one of those when replacement time comes. She doesn't read here so I can tell you she has an IPV under the tree as we speak!
As for the Istick issue, mine did the same thing before a year was out, I'll never get another, but it was good for what it was.