How to create a "Make this Sticky" link or tab
Sure, you can simply add any field to your node type and use that. Let it be a simple checkbox for example. Hide that field from node display. It should just be displayed on the form display. Put it in a prominent position. Finally, via hook_form_alter add another submit handler that then checks the input of that checkbox and sets the node's sticky value accordingly.



I just released Toggle Sticky Toggler. Which adds a "Make Sticky / Unmake Sticky" tab next to the default "Edit" tab.