Thanks for the information and advice! I wasn't sure initially, but reading this I think the shop's feedback is a combination of many the points noted above. I took the bike to another shop a few blocks up from the first here in DC yesterday. Friendly folks, but told me that it would be about $200 to replace (with a month backlog before they could do the labor) that they are not doing rebuilds at all right now. Shops are really busy in DC right now so I get it. I'll look into doing this myself. I may keep this bike as a backup and buy something else in the meantime.
sweeks I like the photo. Hah!