Stan, soldering the header to the DCS-RC doesn't require calibration, but tweaking the pot does. The most questions I ever got were how to accurately adjust the pot without a counter or 'scope.
I was thinking of the TI CMOS TLC555CP version, it has very low power consumption, easily drives the reset line, and makes the package calibration-free. Quantity one from Digikey is 84 cents, so the price is reasonable. Exclusive of the PCB, the parts for this should only cost a couple of bucks from distribution, so the parts cost is not really an issue. I'd rather spend an extra buck on parts and have a board that can just be simply assembled and is ready to function.
