Jeeps and several other Chrysler Products have a reputation of being tough on their sway bars, often wearing out the bushings and end links early and needing replacement. Several of manufacturers have this problem as well.
Normally if the end links are bad, they replace the bushings holding the bar in place as well, or vice-a-versa, simply to ensure there is no more noise from the sway bar.
BUT, in the case of the WK2, FCA decided to go with sway bars that have the bushings molded directly to the bar. So the only way to change the bushings is to change the entire bar.
Why? Usually the most wear comes from the bar twisting or moving within the bushing, thus grinding away at the bushing. Its not suppose to, its suppose to twist the bushing a bit, not turn within it. So I'm going to guess the designers figured they could get the bushing to last longer if it was molded directly to the bar instead of being fitted over the bar and clamped down.
But they really didn't do the customers any favors, for now when the bushing does wear out, instead of being a simple bushing replacement, you have to purchase an entirely new sway bar.
The front bar Dealer MSRP is ~$440, probably could find a new one at discount if you scour the internet for $240. Note, this is just to replace $30 worth of bushings.
$600 parts and $500 labor for a dealer to replace the swaybar and end links, never go back to this dealer service department again. They're charging you full MSRP for the parts, good dealer's charge less than MRSP, and inflating the labor. I haven't done the job, but unless the WK2 has put a bunch of equipment in front of the bar, quadrupling the remove/replace time, $500 is way over priced.
In the case of the Independent Garage, since he knew the bushing could not be had without buying an entire replacement bar, only available as a dealer part, it would be extremely expensive. So sounds like he suggested replacing the simple and easy part first and see if that would solve the problem. You can get the end links, quality aftermarket for $25-$45 a piece, and probably just under an hour labor to replace them. So $250 sounds about right.