as I’ve already said, if you build it, they will come. I guarantee there are players out there (in your area) that would love some legit, even low stakes, poker.
as I’ve already said, many of us were in your exact same shoes. 15+ years ago, My regular players were horrible with etiquette and our game rules were crappy, and unreal by standards I practice today. However, My game grew up, my understanding of poker grew up, my players (most of those original buddies I played with) eventually fell off the invite list, but that was after years of getting really amazing players to my game. We aren’t high stakes hustlers, it’s just guys who love poker, and we enjoy getting together. My game (even last minute) almost always fill up.
Build the game and environment for the players you want, NOT the other way around.
the reason many of us have said switch to a more normal tourney structure, is that’s what most poker players know, or will play at a casino or bar tournament.
you‘re obviously very frustrated with a number of the players you have, and you should realize YOU are the type of player you want at your game… so don’t cater your game to satisfy the players that are obviously a barrier to growing your game, don’t cater to players that frustrate you. Because those players will frustrate the kind of players you DO want.
now if these guys were amazing, well behaved, and you loved hanging with them, and it’s a regular group, and they all wanted to play for nickels and 1 for 1 denominations, then I’d say cater to them. Otherwise, nope. Take some advice, revamp your structure, get a nice poker timer app for your iPad, wow them with a professional “casino” like poker tourney experience. Have rules, make it fun, make it an event, do a buyin with extra chips awarded for food pantry donations, do a bounty tourney, there are tons of options.
We are here for you, but you gotta be willing to take the advice (I was reluctant at first too).