I've run into this problem everywhere on AE86 boards. I'm not frustrated with you directly, I like you. But it just seems like EVERY time some one asks abou a certain engine swap, everyone replies with "No, you need to....". If I wanted to swap a 4AGE, I would have asked about one! lol
Anyways, back on point: It will most certainly not be cheaper to do anything compared to the 22RE, because I've found an entire Celica GT with a fresh rebuild thats been wrecked, $500 is the asking price. That gives me almost all of the things you mentioned, PLUS a set of wheels that will swap. Junkyard warrior build, mang.
Seeeeee thars a reason that I asked specifically about the 22RE.
p.s. if you know of a 3TC somewhere for a similar price, I'd be interested. Back when Toysport was good, they sucessfully raced a 22RE AE86, layed to waste a pair of GTS's too.