Hi Hit Man X, You're obviously a very thorough tech and I appreciate your comments and opinion very much. As I said, I trust the guy at the machine shop, he's very good. He a business man though too and I assume he wouldn't have hesitated to suggest replacing the intake guides and thus earning more for something he's half into already. They were cheap as you noted and I was fine with adding them. When he said they were "tight" I assumed he meant on the top side of spec. so I let it go. But, I guess I'll ask him to elaborate.

Valve springs were actually considered even though he said they were fine, but my best price on them was $115 (12x9 +ship). At nearly $2000 in parts, tools and machine work (about $400 over budget already), other bills to pay and the ease of installation in the car, it was an easy decision to allow it for later if needed.

I realize and acknowledge your advise is correct in practice and procedure. Anyone reading or learning from this thread should indeed be aware of that. I wouldn't want anyone to base their procedure on any, perhaps deficient, decisions they read here from me.
Circumstances may tend to incline or even dictate some to proceed in varied ways. I was just kind of hoping for some knowledge or enlightenment on the effectiveness of the mentioned head gasket modifications.