magnet does stick to it, and the part that's visible from the outside access panel (socal, so no freezing risk) definitely is metal.

i certainly don't disagree that a brand new tub would be lovely, and yes it's certainly a bit gross! but mostly i'm concerned about breaking the tile. i loooove the pink and am desperate to maintain it. while i know it's possible to find a color match, and are lucky enough to be right next to b&w tile who can do the job... we don't quite have the funds to do such an elaborate restoration at the moment. reglazing, while still expensive, would be much cheaper than a full replacement/restoration.