Well, the service guy at the dealership called today to tell me that my valve springs were broken and now we're waiting on new springs. I guess I'll have almost a new top end job by the time they're done. New rings with cylinder honing, new valve springs, new gaskets, and all that on top of my recent cams/lifter change should have the old bike in top form again.
I just hope that these problems will cure the noise issue. Maybe the noise was a culmination of all these things. By the way, he says he will cut me some slack on the labor for it taking so long to get my bike done.