100% false on LS's needing the short travels to run reliably above 7k. I've always run factory lifters. My current one has oe hydraulic lifters in it as did all my previous LS engines that were turning 7500. Current one goes to 8k no problems. I haven't had a lifter or valvetrain fail yet
People like Kenny with turbo cars use the Johnson short travels because they are turning high 8k and even 9k rpm. And the Johnsons are also tie bar which eliminates the possibility of a lifter turning in the oe plastic lifter buckets. Knock on wood i haven't had that happen. But it has happened to some people. Which is why these days on high $ builds most people will use proper Bam or Johnson tie bar lifters in LS to eliminate the plastic lifter buckets. But plenty have run the oe lifters successfully also
Now on Fox's stuff, his lifters shouldn't be scored like that after such little run time. He has an issue somewhere i believe other than the lifters themselves. In my mind even the cheapest china junk lifters shouldn't be scored so quickly
Just to add, i have lifters from 200k mile old LS engines with zero scoring on the lifter bodies
It's good Fox is buying proper proven parts, but if he has lifter bores that don't have enough clearance (assumption, maybe they're ok) he could burn another $1200 soon and then want to burn the car down. Hopefully he can find the tools to measure the lifter bores and lifters to make sure the clearance is in spec. If there was any unusual rough spots in the lifter bores hopefully his first set of lifters honed it out smooth for him