BTW about the big engine little turbo thing -- I think a lot of the difference between a 350bhp 4cyl and a 1000bhp V8 is the weight, both of the engine (particularly the rotating mass) and the vehicle. You'll remember, I expect, that BMW's straight sixes do rather decently in touring events, and that formula one cars are limited to 2.4L, but are normally aspirated twelve (I think it was 12...) cylinder engines that just happen to be able to spin nice and fast. Of course I don't think that's going to end the "number of cylinders" debate, but I know a few of us out there have seen Corvettes place every now and again in their GT classes (is it GT1 or GT2?). Like you said, those big displacements fill up their not so big turbochargers rather quickly because they're blowing 5.7L of fuel+air rather than 2L per revolution, and it doesn't necessarily make them blindingly fast, particularly going into corners, but, well, I like some Corvettes almost as much as my Impreza, and their racecars weigh all of like five pounds (give or take a few hundred) not including the engine... Okay enough rambling, hope it's not too ridiculously off topic :P

Anyway, it looks like someone here has made the mistake of thinking that "people prefer the ej20 to the ej25" means "all people prefer ..." rather than "some people prefer ...." This also does not include the discussion of the variations of both blocks, which I think awns mentioned at some point, or the discussion of what is actually different from one to the other, like whether the more significant change is bore or stroke. For example, some prefer the earliest closed deck ej20 to the one in the WRX, presumably for its rigidity or some other benefit of which I am unaware. In any case, as has been said, both of the turbo engines are DOHC, so you can be sure that any logically founded, non-sentimental preference will relate to the geometry or metallurgy of the block itself.

In conclusion, I like quickly causing feelings of originality, especially if I can do it to the layman... Hey! Maybe I can generalize him, too! And man, I wanna see an STi ver8 in person... This post is long.