illiniguy1003:
an attachment that I could put on a lower cost stepper
A lower cost stepper does not imply that it has fuzzy steps. It's either a stepper motor or it isn't.
If you really insist on going to the trouble of using an encoder you might as well by a DC motor and save money there.
What are you going to do if the step count is 51 and the encoder says 52? Which is correct? Why? Why is there a difference?
...R