Some of us had SP23's before the MPS, and we are all car nuts, so all good here.
Other than all the warnings you already know about.
The corksport exhaust is slightly too long for our Australian spec bumpers, fairly easy fixed though.
The Cobb AP won't work on the SP23.
The only plug and play tuner i've seen for the SP23 is Hypertech. BUT, i don't know, and highly doubt its compatable with Australian cars.
The gains on a NA car was fairly minimal, I don't think really worth the time, effort and money.
You could see someone like Tunehouse and see what they can do ith ECUTEC. Costly though.
Best solution is probably wait (if you can) and save for an MPS if you really want power.
Plus, surprisingly, the MPS JUST gets under the new 130kw/T limit for P-platers in NSW to be introduced at the end of the year. Unless they change it again or if they ban sports or high performance variants
2013 Ford Focus ST - Performance Blue, Cobb AP
Gone 2006 3 MPS Sports - True Red, Koni FSD shocks, in dash OEM look Ebay GPS/DVD, Hypertech, RX8 Rims