I have worked in a production engine shop. I hated every day of it. If you buy a PER engine (brand does NOT matter) don't expect it to be performance oriented. As a general rule, they don't hire machinists, they just hire a guy who can stand at a machine and do lots of parts per day. Most have no idea what they do, or why they do it. They just do what they are taught. Which is very little. They have no idea what surface finish is, why you would care. Or how to finish a bore, or how to pick a valve job. It is strictly production stuff.
You can throw a hissy fit and say don't say anything in my thread if you don't have experience. I have experience. I'm not trying to sell you a thing. Just telling you facts. You won't save any money. You won't have a custom, performance engine. You will have an engine, machined to very loose specs by people who are just not machinists or engine builders.
There are exceptions to every rule. But this is pretty much true with a PER's.
Buyer beware. As an old man once told me, don't step over donuts to pick up dog turds.