There is a hack solution. The 3 way kit can be installed at the 2 endpoints, and the dumb switch kept in the middle. 

Unfortunately the dumb switch has to be kept in one specific position for the other 2 switches to work. 

Both endpoints work as expected, but the middle switch effectively becomes a simple bypass, connecting the 2 travelers

I could argue that being able to

control the circuit remotely, maybe I can live without the middle switch...