Are the TTI shorties really my only option?

Those headman shorties are JUNK !

I know a 71 RR that had them crack in a few years use. Flanges are thin too. The headpipes need to be custom made and are really tight. And a lot of labor $$ to make.

Owner bought a second set in ~7 years after repairing cracks once. Second set had the headpipe flanges completely different plane and clocking. Had to make whole new headpipes again. A complete ugly and costly mess.