I don't think it's blinkered there really aren't many other options that allow you to go as quick for the money. A good Saph Cossie is in the same Price bracket as an Imprezza. The Cossie is cheaper and easier to tune and doesn't feel the need to eat piston 3 at the drop of a hat.

What else is there? An earlier Evo perhaps is the only other option I can see that's in the same catagory that genuinely delivers the goods

Spose you could get a Rover 620Ti but then that's just being stupid isn't it