Alan,
Not knocking anything you've done and do appreciate the attempt to help. You've been around a while and I respect you. Now that you've already spent the money I totally understand your desire to make it worth your investment. Ultimately, it is yours and so the path that you choose to take that makes you happy is the path you "should" take.
To all others I'll simply say this, The case comes with standoffs. No need to buy anything extra. In reality the only standoffs that need to be drilled are the ones that will get in the way (the ones taller than the ones needed to mount your express) In total there are only appox. 8 or so and they take a total of about 2 min to knock down with a drill. (it's plastic,... like a knife through butter) Plus in the end it will take you more time to use/install those extra standoffs.
Like I said though it's yours and if you like the ones you bought than thats what you should do. Last season I used my dremel to etch the letters on the heat sink. I can't be sure, but I think I was the only one. A lot of time invested? you bet. Was it worth it? Depends on your taste but to me the bare aluminum name really popped against the iodized red of the heatsink. It's all up to you and nobody is wrong. Just different.
Leon