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

press the easy button:
>leave stock with a clean up hone, + rings and bearings
>oregon #2204 grind*
>hughes spring kit
>hong kong phooey air-gap
>650~750 carb
>re-curve distributor (this is key)

gobs of torque down town, tons of mid and enough top end to chooch. will run on 87, has great street manners, easy collection of parts that are all reasonably priced. no bag o' tricks necessary for assembly.

wanna get nimbly bimbly? home port the heads and add some roller rockers for splash more HP

headers aren't 100% necessary but will absolutely help all across the range.

*or something that's 480-ish & 215/220 on about a 110-- the split pattern favoring the exhaust is key