Lower but not too much.

Lets say I wanna lower my gp by 1/2 inch. Should I still be paying for the lowering springs or would I be able to get away with cutting the stock springs.

Pay for the Eibachs.... you will be much happier in the end.

dont cut them pay the money and do it right.

Do not cut them, If you do you might not cut both the same and the car would be unbalanced. If you are into that buy them and also replace the shocks to be smaller. I have read about the bounce effect caused of taller shocks than springs or something close to that