I have done a few head gaskets on 22R/RE engines. I have yet to see a Toyota head gasket fail prematurely. What I have seen is people do a head gasket job or have a shop do it, then the gasket fails in 6-12 months. What have these all had in common, aftermarket gaskets, mostly felpro. I refuse to use anything other than a factory gasket, whether it is my truck or someone else's I'm working on. If you look at a felpro side by side with a Toyota gasket I think you will see the difference I am talking about.
I can understand respecting the opinion of your head guy but I cant imagine he would object to you using a Toyota gasket.
I have used two head gaskets purchased through 22reperformance. They where the same gaskets you will get through the dealer. If I recall, they where in the factory Toyota packaging. I didn't really save any $$ buying through them, so if your worried you wont get factory Toyota just go to the dealer, they're about $50.
I have heard people I trust talk highly of MLS head gaskets. I don't know much about them and Toyota gaskets have served me so well I've never gotten around to looking into it.
Thats my experience/opinion on head gaskets. I hope this time around goes better and the head work gets you fixed up.