I was more thinking the cost of the frame y’know but what ever haha.
Glad you found the creak nothing more annoying.
I once chased a creak roundabout rigid ss for months ….did most things you did …even replaced my headset bearings ….then the next time round the bike in frustration found the headset cup had parted 3/4s of the way round the frame insert and the star nut tension was holding it together.