Welcome back, nightmare! It looks like the PO took a few departures from the norm...but that's OK and personally, I like what you got! My '72 looks a lot nicer in photos than in person as well...and even though your description of those hood vents tells me that you're not in love with them, I don't think they look absolutely horrible! Cheesy yes, but horrible???
I can't even make a guess at what a nice looking mechanically sound Suburban goes for now-a-days...but I'll bet that it's less than it would be next month...at least that seems to be the trend? In any case, enjoy using it for it's intended purpose...hauling the family around!
Woody