Should i even bother with with getting a higher compression ratio?

Time to figure out the entire build plan and budget.

If you do not intend to have any work done on the cylinder heads and do not intend to replace the cylinder heads I would not personally bother with the cost of new pistons and rings and cost to balance that rotating assembly. I would definitely check rod and main bearings. If it is coming apart further for inspection replace the camshaft bearings too. Then just install the Hughes Engines valve spring complete kit and camshaft snout extension, and then get your original camshaft reground and run the original lifters. You will have to measure to see if new pushrods will be required after the camshaft regrind.

If replacing he cylinder heads anyways, I would then go with more compression and camshaft but then the cost really starts going up.
I've already completely torn it down. Really just trying to figure out how into the weeds I should go