I've faced the same thing.
What I did was create a new Sites template profile - i.e. SPSCustomSites - copying everything from SPSSites.
Then delete the Sites area, and create a new area called Sites, using the new custom template.
Then hack into 1033\SPSCustomSITES\LISTS\SITESLST\Summary.aspx, which is the default page for the Sites area, and just below the HTML for the search bar, and the code for the Modify Shared Page link.
So after, this.......
<tr>
<td nowrap align="right" valign="top">
<SPSWC:RightBodySectionSearchBox runat="server" SearchResultPageURL="SEARCH_HOME" FrameType="None"/>
</td>
</tr>
Add this.......
<tr>
<td nowrap align="right" class="ms-vb"><SPSWC:EditModeSettingsLink runat="server" /></td>
</tr>