IME it's politics, so you need to find someone that the sticky person fears/respects, and get them onboard.

The only other way I have succeeded is to appeal to the sticky person's ego, make them think that it's their idea.

Note: I have also had to deal with

Sticky person: Do it this way

Me: But X

Sticky Person: No, do it the way I have decreed

[...]

Three hours later (literally)

Sticky Person: Do it X way

You are most likely giving the only real answer. However I just say its better to not care. Look how much energy and mental strife you are going through to line someone else's pockets against their will. That only is not even including the actual work just the unnecessary work around the work. Its not worth it. If the tech is this dysfunctional then so is the rest of the organization, you breaking your back to fix one support structure is just masochism.

Heh, unfortunately it's been this way in almost every company I have been in.

I don't think that I have ever been in a company where I haven't had to deal with it - and it's taken me a while to work it out, I've had physical threats and (just this Christmas gone) been punched in the stomach at a work Christmas event by someone upset that I'm able to point out these other ways of doing things.

People are very scared of losing what little power they think that they have.