Paint estimate, Is this a good price? Options

[94GT]

Hey everyone, I'm getting ready to have all the rock chip damage fixed on my celica and then have a clear bra put on it (did I mention Colorado winters suck?!?!?). I went to a body shop recommended by my awesome mechanic (he's the one who's primarily responsible for my quarter million mile engine running like new) and here's what they told me: A) he recommended against painting the whole car (I was ready to shell out for it, too). He said my paint is in really good shape except for the chips. What he wants to do is sand down 50% of the front end (bumper, half the hood and half the fenders) all the way to the metal, prep it and repaint it. Part of the cost will be labor to remove the front bumper to paint it, which he says is the best way to do it. B) he recommended for the minor door dings I've got to just take it to a paintless dent repair place. To repaint the front end, he estimated 850. Does this sound okay? My mechanic has this guy do custom paint jobs for his "show cars," and I didn't get the feeling he was trying to rip me off. Let me know what you think!

Mike