Well, it's a limited production model and the US will only see 5000 of them, so that has to be taken into consideration. I also think that the $30k price tag is a bit steep and I'd be in a Titanium Gray RX-8 6sp for $28k myself. But, please don't paint this as a Golf with a big motor. By all accounts I have read, this car is a blast to drive. No it's not the second coming or anything, but it's recording respectable performance numbers at the track and more importantly, it's surely going to make 5000 VW enthusiasts very happy.
Styling is always going to be a matter of taste, but I'd hate to see someone argue that the Evo or STi offer interesting styling. After all, they are just a Lancer and an Impreza.