Yes, Toby, the nightmare will end. And next year, you'll probably take on another nightmare.
I feel your pain, brother. Last summer I did some work on my top end. It was my first time working on a Harley, and it was a tragic comedy.
After tearing everything apart, I realized I received the black cylinders instead of the granite. After I got the correct cylinders two weeks later, I bent a ring trying to install a piston. When I got a new set of rings a week later and was almost finished reassembling things, I dropped a tappet cover screw, which found it's way into the cam chest. After hours of fishing with magnets, I was resigned to the fact that I'd have to give up and have the bike trailered to a dealer to be disassembled to get the screw out. I tried one last time, and somehow got the screw out. Next, replaced the compensator and tensioner, and poured a $17 quart of Red Line Primary Oil in without putting the drain plug back in. Didn't know 'til I saw the oil spreading over the garage floor.
Finally got everything back together and fired her up. Purred like a kitten - for about 30 seconds. Lifters started clicking, and within seconds sounded like the motor was going to come apart. Turns out I hadn't tightened one of the adjustable pushrods enough.
As long as it took, I really enjoyed seeing the project come together, and found it extremely satisfying to do the work myself. I'm looking forward to tearing into the bike again, 'though I'm still trying to decide what this year's project will be. Sound system and head work? Of course, new handle bars and cams would be nice, too...