Once again, no one said anything about EFI, computers, and the like. We're talking about putting a cam in and having a better chance than 50/50 that the thing is going to live.
Step into the modern age with cams that don't wipe down and give extra horsepower to boot.
I would gladly pay the extra $350 to make sure the engine doesn't whittle itself away.....disassembly, cleaning, and refresh costs are a lot more than that. I'd pay the $350 for the extra 30-40 hp alone. For a small block, the cost difference is even less significant as hydraulic roller lifters are $120.
The truth be known, hydraulic rollers will get you your 6500 for a LOT (yes, I can type words in all caps too) less than $1500.
No one said anything about originality....we're talking about making engines survive and getting power to boot. I'd rather work on a carb than an injected motor any day.....but I also like not having to worry about cam breakin, special cam lube, $7/quart break-in
oil, blah, blah, blah. I've said this on many other threads....but I've never put a flat tappet cam in an engine that I've built for a customer. And never will.