Engine machining cost

Yup you pay for good work! To align bore, deck, install cam bearings, turn and polish the crank, installing rods on new pistons, bearings, and whatever odds and ends it was about 2200 when It was all said and done.

But mind you they know what they are doing, my family has been going to them for years, we even occasionally borrow tools from them!

You pay for quality work, you don't want to pay twice because something wasn't done right in the first place.