Yeah, I understand what you are saying about heads that are so readily available not being repaired, the employee was just so matter of fact about welding them up and reselling them all day long I kind of got sucked in, and when I went to research it later, I couldn't find anyone saying if it's good or bad just that its more common these days (maybe the technology for welding got cheaper?)
This is a really high volume place, I have a hard time believing they are doing something out and out dishonest. But new ones for the same price is hard to turn down, I think I will abandon those and buy some from a place online that doesn't require cores.
When I got there I hadn't had a chance to even look at them, I had just unbolted them and drove them to the head shop. He flipped them over right there on my tailgate and said hold on- look at the crack, (small, in between cylinders) and then looked at the other one and pointed out the other crack (in the cylinder running towards valve).
So I don't think they are shady, just charging too much for repair when you can get new ones so cheaply.