Machine shop 440 Mopar questions?

Hey guys,
Didn't get a chance to go by the machine shop this past week, I will this week.
Point well taken about the piston sizing and modern materials. Whoever said that's his buisness not mine, is correct...thats why I took it to him to handle. I can take those licks standing up, and learn from them; that -is- why I'm asking for opinions here. My rub is this: I asked 3 times (and was assured 3 times) that he would call me after he checked out the block. Yes, 600 in an unknown engine is higher than I wanted to pay, but 440s are hens teeth around here, and it was 600 "trade" value, with an RV 727 bolted to it....so Regardless I was happy to get my hands on this engine. I want a stroker. I took him the short block, and he was supossed to check it out for cracks, core shift, etc before I put another cent into parts or labor on it. I have nothing else for this motor. Bad block? I would have paid him his fee and licked my wounds for the bad block pick. No foul. See, had he called saying the block checked out, (my first question on every call), I was going to get some studs/gaskets/torque plate for this thing. I was going to communicate this when he called like he said he would (!). I guess I should have Crayola colored that this was not a stock motorhome rebuild? I got no call saying it's gtg, no questions on ring type, piston type, stroke length (I said stroker a dozen times), nada. Just "block and crank ready". And I know the block distorts every way to Sunday, and nothing would be perfect without honing a fully stressed block heated to operating temp. BUT, that is a poor outlook on our hobby. That's like saying if it's not F1 spec, might as well use the local parts house discount rebuild bundle and call it good. We all have various degrees of money to throw at our projects, and we improve what we can afford. Stroker big blocks with good modern pistons almost always use metric/light low drag ring packs. No way a torque plate will make those seal worse. Will it be the best of the best? No. Should it have been used for $1200, absolutely in my mind. And I was gonna eat the plate and gasket cost. I'm also kinda miffed about the crank...I didnt want the crank turned. If I see he charged me $1-150 to turn it I'll let that slide. But if it's more than that I may let him keep it. He may keep the whole thing; I hope he will be willing to re bore/hone with a plate for no extra charge, considering the circumstances. We will see. If this goes sour the engine choice may change, and I'll just change shops. I may have to put the Slant six back in the car....that thing got more jaws slack than the V8 cars when the hood was open. Offy 4 barrel, Eddy 500, Custom solid cam from Schneider with .480 lift, 244@ .050 dur. Ported everywhere, with .125 milled off the head. It ran good for what it was....but I want a big block dangit.
Thanks for the price point comparison also, that's the ball park I was thinking. I know Socal is more expensive on most things, so I don't feel like my expectations were low to think the cost should be around that vs $1200. I didn't get anything in writing, why? Because he was going to check the block and call me....