Do you think I got screwed, or is it just part of the hobby?

well this sounds like the first race motor I put together same thing run good at first and then all hell broke lose used oil like hell.SO I bite the bullet and took it out tore it apart and found wen I put the pins in the pistons I didn't put the snap rings in right in one piston.SO the resst pin pushed the snap ring against the cylinder wall and wore a big groove in the wall.that is what happened to me Meany motors ago.So I learned theres a right & wrong way to put snap rings in...if this is your problum I would say they owe you ........thats my input,Artie