boats,
What I meant by my response was that you could "have your cake and eat it too" by simply using the parts you need while retaining the other parts to return the rifle to original configuration. In point of fact, there are about as many of those high-wall muskets out there as available sporters, so the question sort of morphs into one of doing ANYthing with an original rifle.
Ultimately, if it is your rifle, you can do what you want with it and ethics are not a real issue...but from a collector's standpoint we can't help but want to both preserve and conserve the items we collect with regard to historic as well as financial value.
There is no single answer and it is sort of a moving target anyway. The value of a common musket has risen significantly, but mostly for very well preserved pieces.
Meanwhile, the value of a complete, original high-wall action has skyrocketted,
so we balance one against the other. As more of the common models disappear, each remaining example becomes a little more valuable, but then again, the price of the parts continues to rise as well.
You pays your money and you does what works for you and makes you happy, I personally just try to think about it on the long term, both for my future investment value and for the convenience of my heirs.
Do I have the waters sufficiently muddy yet?
Froggie