Your crossmember very well could be sagging.
The 400 to 500 dollar price is what's really questionable, shouldn't cost half that to bend it back into spec on a frame rack.
Somebody is trying to make some quick cash off of you, especially so since he didn't mention replacing all of the worn original control arm bushings first.
On the poly bushings: the last set I installed in the rear of an A-body car like yours used a thicker outer shell, the original shells were made from thinner metal so they couldn't be used with the poly bushings. Not sure if that will be the case with the front bushings, but be aware.
I burn out the old rubber myself as well, messy though and the molten rubber will mark it's territory so don't do it on a nice driveway. After the old rubber is out of the shell you can either reuse the shells if applicable or remove them with a chisel.
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