I had an old 81 KDX 175 that I bought for $500. I smacked head on into a 4 wheeler and twisted my forks and bent my front tire. My dad worked at a place with a hydraulic press. Because the bike was a beater cabin cruiser and I didn't race or anything like that, I had him put the forks in the hydraulic press and they came out quite straight. I had the rim straightened, spokes tightened, forks pressed, new front fender, and back on trails for < $40. They may have leaked a TINY bit of front fork oil, but on a $500 machine I didn't give a rip.
IMO it was fine. Front tire wobbled ever so slightly, but unnoticeable at trail speeds.