I had one in my yard after Ivan, the entire top of this White Oak had been mangled. The entire tree still stood at about 30' up and there was no doubt, it needed to go. In fact part of it hit the roof and poked a hole thru the decking!!
Anyway there were tons of folks cutting trees, after the hurricane. One came to the door and wanted almost $350.00 to take it down. Didn't have the money at the time but, I also didn't have a saw with a bar big enough to make the cut. The tree was nearly 4' across at the base!
These guys came back several times and about a month later. They caught me in the yard. One of the young guns gave me a price of $200.00 since they were in the area. Nope can't do it, I told him.
They come down my street a week later and are cutting and grinding stumps out of the yards in the area. Here comes the young gun again. I can take that down for you. Naw I just don't have the money. Well what would you be willing to pay?? Could you do it for a $100.00. OK but I can't grind the stump for that price. That is OK, I told him. After they dropped it and removed the top! A carpenter ant infestation got started in the roots of the tree. Told the wife and the kids those are my ants, don't kill them. In a year and half they had devoured enough of the stump to be able to split it and get it out of there!
Like you I was so glad to see that one go!!