With the help of a friend at work, I was able to get a new zero clearance insert made for my craftsman 10" table saw. The insert features a replaceable wooden strip that is pretty easy to make as comapared to make the entire throat plate from wood.
The plate is made from aluminum jig plate and uses the orignal screw to mount in the table. I was able to get the plate exactly flush with the table surface. I have different wood inserts for ripping or dado cuts.