wrote

This is a point of confusion, IMO. As far as I can tell from my PA28
service manual, control
surface repairs are possible, since they have a description of how to do
it. That includes how to check
the balance and state that they're often balanced at the forward end of
the range to "allow for repairs."
The only "official" information I've heard that says repairs aren't
permitted has been 3rd or 4th
generation word of mouth. I've also seen a number of PA28's *with*
control surface repairs.

New thinking at Piper, as reflected in newer manuals, says to replace and
not patch the skins. I would think they have discovered important reasons
to make that change.

The biggest thing that would eat at me, is why the skin cracked, and what is
going on inside there that you can not see without taking the skin off.
Something caused it to crack, and I would not fly comfortable, without
knowing what that was.

If you find peace of mind with patches, more power to you. Keep on keeping
on, then. :-)
--
Jim in NC