But in this car it’s metal, which makes me wonder if it’s a semi-structural component and therefore the zip ties wouldn’t hold,

Even if it isn’t structural in the least, the massively increased stiffness of metal over even thick plastic means that even pretty minimal flexing of the vehicle’s chassis would eagerly shear any size of plastic zip ties off.

This is very much a consequence of paying technicians among the lowest wage in the industry and failing to mentor them effectively. Not to mention being ignored, unsupported, and abused by Manglement.

I love Canadian Tire for its breadth of products, and have almost always found the staff there to be eager and helpful, but I don’t make use of their vehicle services for a damn good reason.