[78F350]

I was about to say it, then saw Joe B's edit. They telescope, but not tilt.

IMS bearing / RMS failures, high maintenance requirements and costs. True or exaggerated?

It depends. If you happen to be one of the 1% to 3% that have the IMS bearing fail, then it is not exaggerated. Preventative maintenance and 6 mo oil changes seem to do a lot to keep the more expensive failures at bay. ANY 12-19 year old car is going to vary in reliability based on how it was driven and cared for. Be ready for an average of $2k per year, expect a lot less. DIY can cut down cost a lot.

Is the S worth the extra money?

Depends on what you want. The S has more power, heavier suspension, better brakes, Lots of S's stuck here and there.
The base is fine and fun and gets better mpg, eats tires a little bit slower.

Is the TipTronic the buzz kill some say?

I have more fun with the 5-speed. I am a lot more comfortable in traffic/in town with the tip. Thumb shifting works fine. It is slightly more parasitic, but still pretty close to the power. I'd say not buzz kill, but not as fun.

I live in the Beautiful Ozark mountains and really cool roads are abundant.

I'm in Indian territory, just across the border from you. I know these roads.