That's pretty cool... er ahh... hot... whatever, it's a nice thing to have. Measuring water and oil temps on engines are alright for a general indication, but cylinder head temp is really a critical and desirable measurement. Many big diesel engines, almost all big rigs have it on a gage. Very sensitive too, and almost hypnotic to watch as you go up and down hills and it is amazing how much more work, and heat, different situations cause. Sitting at a stop light when it is 90º+ and watching that with the engine cooking, may cause a need to carry a pack of Rolaids!
I was just noticing a digital thermometer intended for cooking in an oven or microwave the other night at a wally store, and it had enough remote lead on it to make the distance between the oil fill cap, and the tree. Read from 100º - 450º which should be plenty. I thought about buying the cheap thermometer and an extra oil fill cap; then just drilling a hole in the cap for the probe and using a spot of silicone to glue the "gage" on the tree, and seal the probe in the cap. Might be fun to watch the oil temp.
I'm a big believer in engine temp being a huge factor in parts wear/life, and performance. I have considered one of the oil cooler mods that people have pioneered here.
Someone mentioned VeeDub... An old buddy and I put an oil cooler on his bus, and the difference in engine temp made a remarkable difference in the performance of the poor underpowered bus. It went from a top speed of 55-60mph to 65-70mph! Just some fresh oil and a cooler.
Having pistons and cylinders etc... last tens of thousands of miles longer might help offset the cost of all those extra cam chain jobs!