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I have two hybrids and I don't worry about the batteries in either, frankly. My 16 year old Insight has a perfectly healthy hybrid battery that can give partial assist for 15 minutes. The current battery will probably outlast the engine, and if not, the fuel savings alone will pay for a nice lithium pack, even without new car tax.
I was a bit skeptical when you bought a beater Insight with "needs" and a weak battery, though upon consideration I can relate. My Civic has the beginnings of cancer, and I have thought to myself, "never again a steel car". I have some mild anxiety about driving it on salt roads, because every week I can see the rust spread a little further. The truth is, though, that not all steel cars will rust out before they've fulfilled their usefulness, and not all steel cars rust at the same rate. There are plenty of 25 year old cars up here that are cleaner than 5 year old cars, due to owner neglect. The trick is to buy one before the rust really sets in, and take care of it, and ditto for hybrid batteries. Get a healthy one, take care of it, and it'll last a very long time.
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