Worth it in the end??
Sounds like it was for the customer, not so much for you.
I try not to get involved with long tidious jobs........ where I get to give away 1/2 the labor.
You said yourself, no one near you can do it. Why give it away?
It’s not like you’re charging for work you haven’t done.
The guy I used to rent shop space from here, moved to Va and has a very nicely equipped shop.
When that oddball stuff shows up at the door...... he tells them right up front.... it’s “by the hour”.
He’s always busy....... if he’s not going to make the hourly rate on some job no one else wants to do....... he’ll just work on a different job that will pay the hourly rate.
At least you’ve got this one under your belt and know what’s involved if another one shows up.
No way I’d be giving away 1/2 my time.