Yes, I wasn’t reading it correctly before. As you say, when no alternative is available is how I’ve heard it many times.
Here is a spooky video produced by the Lubavitch headquarters, a teaser for a children’s DVD, with voices laid over a still of their great Rebbe. It’s really pretty harsh on Teddy.
And the photo (I think it was shot just outside [symbolic!]) the eruv at their headquarters. Pretty bloodthirsty. Hang 'em high!
I would wager not, and I’m not a big wagerer. Having lived in Orthodox communities all my life, I can tell you that every non-Lubavitch kid I’ve known has had stuffed bears, dogs, etc, used piggy banks, worn leather from non-kosher animals, not worried about the gelatin content of shampoo, and generally displayed no concern whatsoever for animal products that weren’t going to enter the body. For pig heart valves (or human-derived bone glue, etc.), probably people would ask the question of a rabbi, but would be told it was fine if that was the best available alternative. (My guess is that if there are two equally good medical options, the halachically preferred route would be to choose the non-pig option.) Similarly, if the only way a medication can be delivered is via gelcaps (made of gelatin, which is almost universally not kosher), any rabbi I’ve ever heard of would tell you that it was OK to take.
Interesting. I stand corrected.