Trying to be realistic

My truck's a smallblock but it's got cheapie headers. On its second set after 10 years. It's a worker - plow, trailer, woods, etc. I love the sound of 3/4 throttle pushing an 8' blade up the incline on my driveway. Personally I'd do headers and don;t look back. The truck manifolds suck, and headers will give you a lot more torque from idle until whenever. I rarely get past 4200, and it's mostly under 3K. I have a mild cam, ignition, 4bbl and intake, etc. Even on a stock engine headers will give power and economy boosts.