Bench or buckets ?

Because of your height, buckets make the most sense unless you want any regular size passenger to have to sit in the back seat

I do not care for buckets without console

My 4 speed console was expensive as you quoted, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

As far as boot, mine was a repop that ripped within 6 months. Took the ripped boot to the guy that did my interior and he made a matching ultra leather shift boot. For less than 1/3 the cost of another POS repop boot

So there are ways around some cost. If you have a 4 speed console, and don't want to pay to have it repaired and rechromed. Why not stripe the chrome and use body filled and then just paint the console. The tops were argent so the only chrome was the edge and stripe down the middle and shifter surround

Or custom make a console that suit your taste, cup holders, arm rest, power outlet for cell phone, mp3 player

Really it is you car, do what you like best