Option #1: The old standby
Deprecated stuff should never be used if there is another option. It was deprecated for a reason. Typically that reason is that there is something better in every aspect, and you should use that.
Option #2: The shiny new solution
It sounds like this is the something better. I think you should bite the bullet, and climb that learning curve. This allows someone else to do the heavy lifting of creating it, updating it, and maintaining it. You don't want that on your plate.
Option #3: Roll my own
This is probably what I would do (despite my own advice). It does exactly what you want with zero overhead. You know exactly how it works. But...you have to make it. Making it will probably take longer than learning #2.
Summary
I think #1 and anything deprecated should be avoided like the plague. #3 sounds the most appealing, but I would advise #2.