Did you replace the 3 o-rings related to the sump/filter when you had your pan off? Besides the 2 obvious ones between the pan and filter housing, you should have also replaced the one between the sump and oil pump inlet.
If you're seeing oil leaking from the front crank seal area, you might also want to consider removing, resealing the oil pump too. The oil pump has one large o-ring around it that dries up and thus leaks too and there's a paper gasket behind it too.
I have yet to have a need to replace lifters in any white engine since '92 when those engines first appeared in the US. I have heard of shops who've replaced cams and lifters only to still have lifter noise so don't rush into lifters, it's not an easy job and not a job for an in-experienced person either IMHO. The job of replacing lifters and/or cams successfully can easily be botched if you're not doing it by the book.