Not really so much a hack if one is rooted. There is a Magisk module that replaces FakeStore (now known as App Lounge Store on /e/) with the patched Play Store from Nanolx. No other Google services need be installed or hacked around.
Otherwise yeah, the hacky way by manually replacing and pushing files. Consulting the installer contents might give ideas.
[MODULE] fakestore2playstore - microG with License Verification + In-App-Purchases | XDA Forums
Previously memtioned in this thread
Note that latest version of module is 0.2 from the GitHub.