[chumbucket]

Stainless props are good for performance. Believe it or not, aluminum props will flex slightly changing the pitch. It's really not something that the majority of us would notice though. It is, however noticable with composition props and I would recommend not going that way. Aluminum is probably the most economical and best performance for the money. There are new props out now that the blades and hub are separate and interchangable should you require a pitch change or replacing damaged blades.
You also could have attached a Skeguard stainless replacement on there for about $100.
I don't know about the insurance companies where you live, but here they will warrant a claim, then drop your policy afterwards (many of them anyways). So, in most cases, you're better off not filing a claim.