Best/least bad version of M96/97

[Qmulus]

I had hoped that my '03 S M96.24 engine was one of the better M96 engines that Porsche made. Looking into it further it seems that there are still significant issues other than just the IMS bearing issues. I was honestly kind of dismayed to discover that. Now I wonder if there is such a thing as a "good" M96/97. I will say that in my business I generally see just the "problem children", and I will freely admit that I have a rather pessimistic attitude as a result. I have now seen six totally destroyed M96/97s (including one built by Jake's shop, although I do think the issue was tuning and/or user error rather than the mechanicals), plus a few with "just" IMS bearing failures.

I also looked into the design of the newer MA1 engine from '09+. This is not simply an evolution, but rather a clean slate, start over, clear the desk design. I note that even the engine code seems to denote that they started from scratch with that engine, and from the construction it is apparent that they did. The cam and oil pump chains are now driven directly off the crank. No more IMS, no more sealed ball bearings in the engine (duh...). There is no more separate crank bearing case, the crank is now held more conventionally directly between the case halves. The case now has a stronger closed deck design rather than the unsupported, cast-in sleeves. The heads no longer have a separate cam follower housing, but rather the hydraulic cam followers are housed directly in the head, in what I would consider to be a more conventional manner. Honestly, the engine looks more in common with a Subaru than the M96/97. I don't consider that to be a bad thing.

Anyway, originally I had thought that my rather low mileage '03 S would be something that I would build into something for autocross and DE events and keep a long time. Now I am starting to think that putting a lot of time and money into it is not a great idea, and perhaps it should just be something that I enjoy as is for a while as is and than look for an '09+ as a better "investment". Thoughts?