Well, here's food for thought. Anything making over.. hmm say maybe 250 horsepower I'll have to spend even MORE money to replace the transmission and rear end to support that power, which to me seems like more time and money than I care to really spend to justify the end means.
Not to mention, as ben stated, there is a balance you have to keep in a car.. I'm going for the entire fun factor of the car. You drive the absolute piss out of it, you don't have to worry about blowing it up, beat the shit out of it at an event and drive it home with no worries, not even a sweat.
How about this, since you seem so skeptical.. I might be willing to let you either come for a ride or take it for a spin, possibly at an autocross or something, I'm sure you'd be suprised.