Did you mean to post this in a blog? Maybe a general post in one of the forums would be better and get more responses.

As to your question, if the plane is awesome other than one cylinder, and the price is reasonable, I say go for it. I think a new cylinder (overhauled?) is ~ $1000

Ran into same issue with an IO520. Was ready to pull cylinder when IA suggested we try "faking it first". Not being up to date on that particular term I told him "sounds good to me."

He immediately procured a brass hammer and begin to tap the valve stem.

Carbon came off, compression came up and cylinder is fine. Just a thought.

I would point  out that there will be a significant span of time till the next compression check and that removing a bit of carbon might only temporarily raise  compression; It is always best to replace the "jug". Some people shy away from from a single cylinder replacement in favor of a TOH but I have always found a single jug to be a good solution; quick easy and fairly cheap. It is common for pilots who make descents at verry low power to wear out front cylinders early from shock cooling while some aircraft accumulate heat in the cowlings and wear out back cylinders early.

  A cylinder assembly consists of the cylinder, the valves and usually the rockers. It wil have a new piston with rings already inserted into the cylinder with just enough skirt protruding to insert the floating wrist pin. The numbers are good buy the plane and do a "jug".