Supermoose I agree that the early WRX EJ20g engine are nice units. They make up to 260hp stock. The fact that you found 2 early WRX clips for the price you did is very lucky.
I dont see where you are coming up with $2000 to tune a USDM engine. Up-pipe, pinks, vf22 and a reflash can be had for that price and you are at 260whp. That cant be done with a early WRX engine. Injectors are hard to find, engine management is a huge problem.
Last thing i want to do is start another JDM/USDM fight. Thats not what this thread is about. For the most part I am pro JDM. If i had to choose between a JDM EJ20g or a USDM i would choose the USDM, there are just too many advantages to it. JUST MY OPINION. You can make you own choice.
With that being said, I chose the JDM path. And yes I paid much more then 4k for it, but I got a complete car cut in 2 peices with 3k on it. It wasnt just the common clip. Plus at the time (2001) it was (still is) the best of the best. If I had to do it all over again I wouldnt change a thing.