Since the ZZ4 crate engine hit the market in the early '90s, buying a ready to go engine for your Chevy has never been easier, or more popular...
With that popularity comes the downside, the massive hit the engine building industry has taken. With factory engines of various makes lasting longer than the vehicle they're in without need ofr a rebuild, a lot of engine builders fell back on performance engine work as their mainstay. The crate engine craze brought the death blow for a lot of those businesses.
So, outside and original restoration where rebuilding the original engine is necssary, where does building an engine versus buying a crate motor land in today's world. Pride in putting together a custom package? The joy of the hands on engine build? Being able to take the road less traveled and say "I didn't buy my motor, I built it?"