captint
If you are going to do plenty of mods, which looking at your list you are, I would recomend you go the JDM route. Save yourself some money which you can use towards the mods. It would be advisible to get one from last quarter of 2004 onwards as the suspension is the same spec as UK.
We have forum discount with TDI. They may be worth having a chat with about SC or TT and cost.
Plenty of other members will be along shortly to advise on SC or TT with more experience than me.