Given the age of our cars, I'd made up my mind that I was not goingto take the breathers off and not the valve covers as well. Also, I believe that I can get a better "Set" of the RTV by letting it breathe with the assemblies off the car.

My perspective:
Order bolts, gaskets and RTV. Have them change the gaskets, redo the RTV and put in new bolts as recommended. Close to $100 in parts and maybe 3 hours labor. Most markets, that means about $400 total.

It is stupid that this happens, but Ive had three Crossfires, the first two did not do this, but this car is a low miles garage queen that has sat a lot. I think that has a lot to do with it and 50,000 miles is low miles.

In any event, valve cover gaskets can go down hill over time, the cars are ten years old and you may end up with the car another ten years - so I'd to it all and be done with it. That is what I am going to do, myself, this weekend - wish me luck cause I am not one to represent myself as a mechanic.