If you have difficulty putting a U bend in a push rod for length adjustment which also reduces its stiffness it does raise the question why use wire than is so hard to bend?
Softer wire is easier to bend so is easier to get the right length in the first place. Without a U bend it is likely to be just a stiff as the piano wire that has one.
Really soft wire can even be bent, straightened and then re-bent at a new position.
On my lighter (<1 kg) planes I use the wire from 'straightened' paper clips.
Easy to bend and very cheap so if not quite the right length, just make another.
It works for me.
The pretty 3D printed servo horn cover is optional.