Man, an H/X pipe takes 30 minutes to put on, do it yourself and you get to keep the stocker for inspection. I plan on going with LT's, but I'll have the stock H-pipe hacked up and re-welding to fit. Shouldn't cost too much at the local muffler shop.
Dan
I feel your pain and it's why I have been selling off most my old project FOX bodies and why I bought a new Stang from Ford that was DONE and smog/CARB legal.
Here in the People's Republic of California we have an Axis of Evil and it's the California Air Resource Board. (although I do admit I like being able to breathe) It's just not worth the pain and grief to fight them. It's a losing battle. New regs every couple years making it harder and harder.