If you have time I am all for rebuilding, establish a good friendship with a machinist and your set. If the truck is just a fun vehicle and not critical to day to day life I would just buy some books, read about it and have a good time.
I actually spent more rebuilding my big block than just ordering a fresh crate 454 but it was alot of fun. A crate engine costs everything at once (unless you have a credit card, I dont) but rebuilding lets you spread big purchases out over time and the end result is a one off custom engine you know everything about.
There is a certain satisfaction to it you only experience if you do it yourself. Transporting yourself in a vehicle you rebuilt the engine and transmission in is pretty cool, a ton of satisfaction.
With that being said, if my Impala SS threw a rod because I was driving it like a moron there would be a crate engine on its way here. Its the family car so we cant wait a year for me to assemble a 383 stroker for it.