FWIW, I just had Eric Precourt look at mine and it wasn't that expensive. There was some chafe wear just above the lower thimble. He spliced that back in as tail, sent 'em back to me, told me go sailing, worry about it in a couple more years. I have since then in order to reduce the chafe wear, painted the lower ends with some Yale coating, what is it... maxijacket, yeah. Between all of us hanging on to them and sheets dragging across them, I guess that's where the chafe comes from. It wasn't real bad, but I try to keep my ol'lady up pretty well. Like her skipper, she ain't gettin' no younger.
I can tell from your posts that you are somewhat leery of the technology. If you're in doubt, send 'em to the man and have him look at them. But really, just how old are your shrouds? Geez, mine are something like 4, maybe 5 years old?