Question On Piston/Head Combo

If he means the stock heads didn't hurt the power because the engine gained power when he went to more compression, that's true. If he means the heads wouldn't give more power if they were ported, that's bologna. The stock 360 "smog heads" as you call them, if properly worked, will make as much or more flow than the J or X head. Any 360 head is as good as a "X" head. You just have to be smarter than your cylinder heads.

Worth it to port them? Hard to say as that is a relative term. Anything done properly will be of benefit horsepower wise. You just have to chose what you can afford.

Go aluminum if you can afford it.