is it all worth it?

abodyjoe, with all due respect, I've been around Mopars long enough to say I think your examples are the super rare exception - not the rule.
Your yellow Swinger is a beautiful car, but would you ever get the money out of it that you put into it? No.

In my opinion, if this guy likes his later model Swinger, I say go for it, restore the car the way you want. Forget about getting money out of it, most of the time you never will.

Don't count on finding a truly rust free running A-body for $1100 anytime soon........

I've owned my '68 Road Runner since 1993, purchased from the original owner. It's a numbers-matching all original extremely clean car. Am I gonna start modifying the original motor? Hell no. That's why I paid $3000 for a clean '75 Scamp /6, 904, 7.25. I love the car and have a 383, 727, 8.75 plan for it.