Subaru GC8 Impreza USDM vs JDM STi Swap - Is JDM Always Better?

I've LONG wanted to try an 8000 rpm JDM STi engine - so when Kenji and Gabe offered to let me test a 2.5L USDM EJ257 swapped GC8 Impreza first, then hop into a 2.0L JDM EJ207 swapped Impreza Brighton to feel the difference... I just couldn't resist. So let's try to answer the question - is JDM always better, at least when it comes to Subaru?
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