Advice on stroker build with cracked cylinder

I don't think I have ever seen a more thoroughly answered question on FABO, with opinions, reasoning, parts, process descriptions, and supporting success stories from very experienced people. It is a 500 HP iron block application, not a 1000HP AL block application.... different animals altogether.
Agreed.
Lots of good discussion here for sure. Bottom line, it sounds like the OP is nervous about running a sleeve. Then don't do it. Find another block and start again. With all the positive sleeve opinions, I wouldn't have a second thought about doing it that way.