Confusing Mind Boggling Times

I am getting confused.  I just don't know which way to go.  I called the place that replaced my master brake cylinder about a month ago (before the Hondamatic rumbled it's last rumble).  I asked for advice on where to take the Hondamatic for an engine swap out.  Believe it or not, they do it there!  I provided the Hondamatic's specs and the owner said he'd search around for an engine and call me back.  He was imaging the parts and labor would fall somewhere in the range of $1200-$1700.  I really could live with that. 
I did get a call back and I was told that there was no Hondamatic engine anywhere on the entire west coast.  There was one in New York but the shipping would be insane.  In addition I was also told that no one would rebuild my existing engine since the parts were not readily available if available at all.  His advice, scrap the Hondamatic and get a new car.
Can you feel my deflation?  This is awful awful news.  But it also didn't quite make sense.  I had been able to find some parts in my research on the magic internet machine thingy.  At least that's what the websites claim... I guess whether or not the parts truly exist is the question.
I relayed this sad sad (mis)information to Collin.  He replied that I should get some rebuild (not replace) quotes because a friend of his would do the work for 70% of the average quoted price and maybe even for less if we helped. 
Hmmmmm......
So, my next step is to call around to the local mechanic shops (there are a lot! I never realized!) and see what they would theoretically charge for labor if parts were hypothetically available for the Hondamatic engine. 
Funny thing is, I called the cool website that has a master engine rebuild kit and the guy (I think it's a one man show) actually answered the phone.  I wasn't expecting this.  I thought I would just leave a message and send an email.  But anyway, Ron answered the phone and told me that he did indeed have an engine rebuild kit for the Hondamatic.  It would be $511.97 and shipping would be $12.50.  It comes with the following:
Pistons,
wrist pins,
rings,
main and rod bearings,
thrust washers (if applicable),
jack shaft bearings (if applicable),
cam bearings (if applicable),
camshaft(s),
lifters (if applicable),
freeze plugs,
gasket set,
complete timing kit,
and oil pump.
Awesome right?  Ron also said that I would need to take the block apart first and inspect it before I ordered the kit so I could tell him the piston and rod and main bearing sizes, as he has standard, 10-20-30 or 40 over and there is no extra charge for the correct size I would need. 
So much for not being able to find parts.  Maybe I just need the engine kit, which is a master engine rebuild kit less: camshaft, lifters and timing set.  That's only $351.67
Just to check things out too, I placed a couple of inquiries on rebuilt Hondamatic engines.  I got a couple of quotes back and one was for $842 and another was for $991.  I got two more but they were over $1100.  The only thing is that they didn't specify whether shipping was included, free or exorbitant.  The sites seemed sketchy too even though they claimed to have warranties.  Maybe they're fine... I don't know.