Stepside bed front panel - repair mine or buy new?

[Lugnutz65]

I have 2 original stepside front bed panels. Both have bad rust at the lower 3 inches of the panel. The options as I see them are:
1. Buy a brand new panel
2. Repair the best panel with a piece of NEW sheet metal with the proper flange bent along the bottom edge
3. Cut a repair patch from the 2nd front panel and bend a flange. see photo.

About option #3. The area immediately above the stamped rectangle could be cut and used as a patch. See photo.

A repair will require hours of work but might fit better. Buying a new piece will be about $90.

How well do the stepside repop front panels fit?
Opinions welcome.