Kyle,

I wouldn't deck a block without doing a blueprinting job on it, because tight squish requires that the bearing clearances are accurate and the rods are all straight and the same length, etc. In stock, used form, we see piston heights vary a lot.

It's not the decking that costs, but all the other work that makes the motor precise enough to run tight squish without danger of a piston hitting the head.

So for now, I say if you have a solid block, leave it along, shave the good head about .040" (assuming it's close to stock thickness now -- check!), use a .030" head gasket and call it good.