Replace manifold or get headers?

Alright everyone I've been hearing a lot of mixed things about headers. I have a 2.4 liter 1st gen and my manifold is leaking. It needs to be fixed by the end of the year so I can pass emissons here in Oregon. I've heard that it is pointless to put headers on a 4 cylinder engine for any car. I have a list of things I want to do to my tacoma but I'm on budget and I need to know from you guys if it's worth spending the money for a header.

 

Labor should be the same for both, but have you done a price comparison yet?

 

I know the headers from LCE are 400 and my mechanic said it would cost me around 200 to fix my manifold

 

Get in there and do it yourself, save the $200

 

So get the header or manifold?