Michael,
That is a real good price for forms.....and will save you MUCH time. If I were to build my hybrid NH over again I would have built a lower deck for sure. However, your foot size IS an issue. I have a size 12 and fit comfortably in a limited number of boats with lower decks.

You might want to consider the following. With your feet flat against the wall, measure the length of your feet. Then give Nick a call and get a sense where that height would lie at the deck where either the footpegs lie.....or where you place the front bulkhead with padding (my preference for where to place my feet).

You can also go to a bunch of kayak shops.....sit in them and test your foot comfort level with a variety of deck heights.

Having said all that, it also depends upon how you place your feet when paddling. Some folks sit with their feet rather vertical....others splayed all the way out.

This is the best time to figure out your comfort level. Another option is to customize the deck as you can do that with a strip deck. You can choose a lower deck (especially nice for laybacks)....and then progressively customize the foreward forms to your fit. I would think Nick could help you with this?

My .02. Let us know what you decide.
Bob