I need some advice from ONLY a professional dentist or someone that
knows that field very very well.  Or has had similar experience.

I have a #14 tooth (up top in back) that started very recently falling
apart.  Went to dentist today, and they told me that it is infected and
affecting the nerve (which I can see myself in Xrays).  So they want to
do a very expensive (even with ins) root canal.  Then, I talk to a
friend who had a similar exp and opted to just have a lower molar
pulled instead of canal'd.  And he's happy with it.  Bottom line...i
know this is "an important tooth for chewing" (as the dentist's aide
said) but I do have the option to simply have it pulled instead and
save hundreds of dollars.  Is it really worth the 1k to keep a #14?

Can someone give me advice please? Thanks a million.