If it helps you decide any, my 2.6 had SEVERE scoring in the #3 due to my F'ing up dropping my pistons a long time ago. Got an oil ring trapped under the lower compression ring. I really thing that is about as bad as you could get. Engine shop was able to bore it out and drop in 3 ring flat-topped pistons.

Cost me $500 at the time, but I still think he took pity on me for the unbelievably stupid mistake. (block was also line-bored, boiled, and pressure tested. Crank and silent shafts were balanced.)