Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this due to the specific gasket being used in that initial run of the engine, and has been fixed on everything with the 2.3 after it? I haven't heard about headgaskets specifically being an issue on anything else with that motor in it, anyways.
And honestly...
Also, this is only if you stick with Ford Performance's tunes, which while they're attractive for warrantying purposes...there are going to be other options that will net better gains on 91 and 93 octane gas. Obviously, the best tunes will be protunes, i.e; having a reputable tuner actually...
Manuals keep me awake during driving. Not literally, but I can 100% feel the difference in my attention-span between manual and an automatic (I drive an auto for a work vehicle). Granted it's probably more the transmission characteristics itself, but the autos I deal with routinely feel sloppy...
It's definitely gonna be my daily, and maybe I'll even deign to take it over a few curbs at the local shopping mall!
I do actually want to get into some mild off-roading though.
Carbon buildup is a result of direct fuel injection over port fuel injection. It's happening on other platforms and is not limited to the 2.3L Ecoboost only, or just Ford's engines only; people have been crowing about this in the FA20DIT that's in the WRX since 2015, and the general wisdom has...