Wow, that's a bummer, I would have been kicking myself too. I dropped one without it breaking (on accident), and Ghurd had posted about one blowing over in a gust of wind. I've so far, never managed to break one myself, but it's probably just a matter of time. That tempered glass is tough stuff, but a bit funny. Broken porcelain like from the top of spark plugs knocked against it will break it with almost no force, where you would just about break your hand before breaking it if you tried to punch it.
I've been using angle iron, just welding a square frame and drilling holes to match the panels. Some I have made from those common old bed frames. You could make a base out of angle iron as well and weight it down or anchor it, and I know you've got friends with welders. Rich