Yeah, they may be worth a try. We had them also about 15 years ago and they weren't nearly as bad as they were this time. They taste good and their eggs are also good.
I use straw and have used it MANY times and never have had any problem with it. A 100 watt bulb about 2 feet up keeps them just right with the lid from the container covering half of it so they can get cooler if they want.. If you never have had Guineas, I would definitely reconsider. We had...