Is this engine recoverable?

Your right. Different strokes for different folks, but nothing is more satisfying to me than the dull thud a slant sux makes when I kick it off the back of my scrap trailer. I had a nice 225 out of my 67 barracuda. Nobody wanted it. Even for free. I removed the alternator, carb, distributor, and air cleaner, and scrapped it.
I am ashamed to say what I scrapped back in the 80s when NOBODy wanted Mopar stuff, well not small block anyway...:)