Small claims court is not expensive, but it does eat up some of your time. There are no attorneys involved and the filing fee is minimal however it can be included as damages. All you have to prove is that you did the work properly. He would have to demonstrate why you don't deserve to be paid.

Maybe I'm a little more vindictive than you are, but I wouldn't hesitate to take the guy to court and make him pay...and if he says he can't then you can get a court order to garnish his wages and/or seize the money from his bank account.