What's tough is adding another 1200 GBP (on its own not an entirely insurmountable number) on a total bill that's already very substantial (and intensely more so than was estimated when buying the car) for something that should cost a lot less (the price of the rings has no bearing on their complexity or materials used), while not even knowing if they require replacing in the first place. The bearings, those are very clear cut. These, who knows?
So indeed, what you are saying
@DLax69 .
On the other hand, looking at the big picture, not changing them (and taking into account that in the total bill, they do not represent a significant percentage whatsoever) while the engine is out and open seems very unprudent. Imagine doing all this effort and then something goes wrong with these.
Apologies for venting, I've not been sufficiently at the receiving end of what this car has to offer (I'd say around 20 miles in total), while being very much at the receiving end of the sacrifices it demands in return.