I am trying to keep the costs down.

It looks like new pistons are about $30 each. I guess the ones I was looking at $800 for a set here not standard ones?

For $300 to re-piston/ring then yeah, sleeving makes no sense.

As for the stress thing.... its that really an issue? I've talked to many jeep owners and they all seem to have, or know of, someone running with an overhauled engine 'back to standard' (aka sleeved).