Use mx and spark components in pure ActionScript project?

I'm working on an AIR project in Flash Builder 4, but I'm not using MXML at all (pure ActionScript). Is there a way for me to instantiate and use mx and spark components without MXML? If not, what is the minimal amount of MXML I have to use? FYI, I've already tried all of the following hacks with absolutely no luck:

http://www.actionscript.org/forums/showthread.php3?t=143062

http://ersatz.tv/2009/off-topic-flex-components-without-mxml

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/141288/possible-to-use-flex-framework-components-withou t-using-mxml

I much prefer ActionScript over MXML. Why does Adobe have such a hard-on for this MXML ****?! It's like all that code and all those great components are going to waste.